BOSTON, February 1, 2018—Suffolk County District Attorney Dan Conley this morning honored 24 students at a Dorchester elementary school who completed his office’s comprehensive youth violence prevention program.

During a ceremony this morning, Conley presented certificates to 24 fifth graders at the Richard J. Murphy School who completed the Overcoming Violence curriculum after six weeks of interactive study and discussion.  He was joined at the event by members of his office and representatives of the Boston Police Department, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department, and the Boston Centers for Youth and Families.

DA Dan Conley visited the Richard J. Murphy School in Dorchester to honor fifth graders who completed his office’s Overcoming Violence program. He was joined by fifth grade teacher Nancy Araujo, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Stephen Fiste, Boston Police Officer Jeffrey Lopez, Nadia Lovinsky of SCSD, Boston Centers for Youth & Families Deputy Commissioner of Programming Chris Byner, Murphy School Principal Courtney Sheppeck, and facility dog Indy, who joined Conley’s office in 2014.

The Overcoming Violence program offered by Conley’s office utilizes an interview documentary, site visits, and guest speakers – including Suffolk prosecutors and victim-witness advocates, police officers and corrections officers – to teach students about the causes of violence and the long-term consequences of both positive and negative decisions.

“Some of the most important work we can do as prosecutors is in the classroom, not the courtroom,” Conley said. “The young people who’ve completed this anti-violence curriculum will carry those lessons with them as they make their way in the world, helping them and their peers make positive decisions for their lives and their communities.”

The anti-violence program was launched by Conley’s office in 2004 as Understanding Violence, and the curriculum was retooled and updated a decade later in 2014 in collaboration with students in UMass Boston, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department, the Boston Police Department, and Boston Public Schools.  Renamed Overcoming Violence, the program has been presented in schools across Suffolk County.

To learn more about Overcoming Violence or request the curriculum at your Suffolk County school or youth service agency, visit http://www.suffolkdistrictattorney.com/the-overcoming-violence-curriculum/.
 

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