Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley's Community Relations Unit provides the link between the district attorney's office and the neighborhoods it serves in Boston, Chelsea, Revere and Winthrop. Community Relations is responsible for promoting several key functions of the district attorney's office beyond criminal prosecutions including: intervention, crime prevention, and educational programs. Staff members who work for the Community Relations unit coordinate a wide range of community-based events, neighborhood and civic organization meetings, and safety seminars for residents and students. Educational Sessions and Workshops Please contact Community Relations if you are interested in scheduling educational sessions and workshops for children or adults. Topics include: personal safety, how to safely navigate the Internet, and how to establish a neighborhood crime watch group, in addition to a number of other topics. These educational sessions have been implemented and endorsed by District Attorney Conley in the spirit of promoting public safety through the formation of partnerships between residents and law enforcement. Educational Programs The District Attorney's Office, the Criminal Justice System, and You This curriculum presents the reader with basic information about what the district attorney's office does, how it functions within the criminal justice system, what resources and services it makes available to the residents of the community, and how the office may be accessed by residents. The curriculum also provides the contact information for the various units at the district attorney's office. Understanding Violence This educational curriculum began as a partnership between District Attorney Conley's office and the office of Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly. Since then, Conley's office has collaborated with the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office with the shared goal to establish an honest dialogue about the root causes and consequences of violence in local communities. The goal of the Understanding Violence project is "to provide young people with a powerful, proactive tool to discuss the realities, choices and costs of youth violence." It is intended to be used in diverse settings such as schools, after-school programs, youth centers, or faith-based groups - any setting in which adults strive to provide young people with a forum to discuss these important topics. Topics covered through this curriculum include: What Causes Violence? What Happens When Someone Is Accused of a Crime? How Do Stereotypes Affect Us? Truth vs. Snitching: What's the Difference? Why Do Kids Join Gangs? How Do You Make Responsible Choices? The curriculum includes an optional 33 minute video which accompanies the program. Internet Safety One of DA Conley's priorities is to protect the children of Suffolk County from Internet predators in an era of rapid communication and easily shared information on a global scale. To address this problem, members of Conley's Computer Crime Division are available to give scheduled presentations. The curriculum instructs school-aged children on how to use the Internet safely, including what a child can do if he or she receives suspicious contact while browsing the Internet. Community Events The Suffolk County District Attorney's Office hosts, supports, and attends community events throughout the year in order to provide an important presence to the community, making community members aware that we are here to listen and to help work with them to unite the community against violence. Events have included: Mother's Walk for Peace Basketball for Peace Soccer for Peace Boston Takes 25 National Night Out National Victims of Crime Awareness Week National Youth Violence Prevention Week Civic Leadership Meetings Community Crime Watch Meetings Public Safety Meetings Presentations are also available in Spanish and Haitian Creole. Contact Information For further information, or to set up an event, contact the Community Relations Unit at: Tanya Brussa-Pagan, Director of Community Relations Suffolk County District Attorney's Office One Bulfinch Place Boston, MA 02114 Phone: (617)619-4131 Tanya.Brussa@massmail.state.ma.us