D.A. Blodgett Updates Bullying Prevention Project

Essex District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett will present his newly updated "Stop Bullying Before It Starts" project to educators and police on Tuesday, May 24, from 8:00 - 9:30 a.m. in his fifth floor office at 10 Federal Street, Salem.

The prevention project, which is intended for middle school students, educates them about the serious problem of bullying, and helps them develop and deliver bullying prevention messages. It consists of a PowerPoint presentation with a guided discussion, classroom discussions and action projects.

The PowerPoint presentation contains slides and a video which address the bully, the bystander, civil rights and hate crimes, when bullying behavior may constitute and crime, and the right of every student to feel safe at school.

The action projects encourage students to participate in projects in their own school, with younger students and with parents in the community, to bring awareness to the problem and help eradicate bullying.

"The recent conclusion of the tragic case involving Phoebe Prince reminds us once again that bullying is not a harmless rite of passage," said District Attorney Blodgett. "Bullying can have a devastating impact on the victims and their families. That is why we continue to aggressively address this issue and look for ways to improve and enhance our educational and prevention efforts."

This program is a resource for schools and police, and is intended to be used within a broader school curriculum.

Members of the media are welcome to attend.

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