2009 ACTIVITIES, ECPO Community Justice Program:

During January 2009, the Community Justice Unit prepared summer youth internship applications to distribute to various public high schools throughout Essex County. The Community Justice Coordinator went to various high schools to recruit students for the Summer Youth Internship Program (more below). Applications for the summer youth internship program were reviewed by the Community Justice Unit and members of the Community Justice Advisory Board. Arrangements were made to hold an "Open House" session for the summer internship program at Camden Middle School, which is located in Newark. Letters were sent to high school students advising them of "Open House", where they would receive information regarding the summer youth internship program and be interviewed by members of the Community Justice Advisory Board.

The Community Justice Unit participated in monthly meetings of the Community Justice Advisory Board. Approximately twenty advisory board members attended each meeting, representing a variety of community-based organizations serving Essex County. The Community Justice Unit also attended ten community meetings during the first quarter to listen and address the concerns of Essex County residents. The Community Justice Unit also participated in six Career Day programs at area schools, where employees informed elementary school students about their career with the Essex County Prosecutor's Office and discussed other careers within the office.

The Community Justice Unit held a Book Drive to benefit juvenile offenders at the Essex County Juvenile Detention Center in January. The Unit donated over three hundred new and gently used books to the facility. The Community Justice Unit held a Project I CAN event in January, where a violinist from the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra went to visit two schools in Newark and one school in East Orange to discuss his career. The violinist also gave a demonstration to the students and encouraged them to reach their goals. The Community Justice Unit provided four workshops to the Essex County community. The topics included Gang Awareness, Internet Safety and an Overview of the Essex County Prosecutor's Office.

An "Open House" for ECPO's annual Summer Youth Internship Program was held in April, 2009. Approximately eighty high school students attended the "Open House" to learn about the program. All of the students were interviewed by members of the Community Justice Advisory Board. The following month, the Community Justice Advisory Board selected interns for the summer youth internship program. Letters were mailed to students who were accepted into the program. Letters were also mailed to students who were not accepted into the program.

The Community Justice Unit participated in seven Career Day programs at local schools during the second quarter of the year. Employees discussed their careers with elementary school students. The Community Justice Unit attended six community meetings during this period to listen and address the concerns of Essex County residents. The Community Justice Unit provided four workshops to Essex County residents during this period. The workshop topics included an Overview of the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, Internet Safety and Gang Awareness. A total of three Community Justice Advisory Board meetings were held during this quarter. Approximately twenty advisory board members attended each meeting.

On Friday, May 15, 2009, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office held its eleventh "World Against Violence" Youth Conference (WAV #11): "Believe, Achieve and Succeed" for approximately 400 invited students from various Essex County high schools! The goal of the one-day summit is to engage high school students in a one day symposium on the dangers of dating violence, the consequences of becoming involved with gangs, guns, drugs and other delinquent behavior.

This youth conference was held at New Jersey Institute of Technology, University Heights in Newark from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Essex County Prosecutor Paula T. Dow gave the welcome address. Dr. Robin Eubanks, a professor at UMDNJ Medical School and motivational speaker encouraged students to reach their goals. In recent months, the topic of domestic violence has fueled the national media with the incident regarding R&B superstars, Rihanna and Chris Brown. Members from the non profit organization, Teens Experiencing Abusive Relationships (TEARS), will provide a workshop to students about dating violence. Dr. Bob Lee, radio personality with WBLS, addressed the students in the afternoon.

On March 26, 2009, the Community Justice Unit held a Project I.C.A.N. program at UMDNJ Medical Center. Over one hundred fourth, fifth and six grade students from local schools participated in the event. Students met various medical professionals, received a tour of the hospital and viewed the inside of an ambulance. The medical professionals described their daily functions to the students and encouraged them all to achieve higher education.

Project I Can Achieve Now (I.C.A.N), offered fourth and fifth grade students exposure to a series of workshops that included meeting various professionals in diversified careers. Students met with the Essex County Prosecutor, the Essex County Assignment Judge, and members of the judiciary in criminal, family and civil court. They were also introduced to members of the medical community at The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) where they met doctors, technicians, lawyers, the hospitals EMT and police personnel to discuss succeeding at various careers in medicine. This program was expanded to include the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra as a participating organization. A musician from the Orchestra visited several schools in Newark and East Orange. He played his violin and stalked to the students about having a career in music. In May 2009 a total of 180 students were invited and participated in seeing the NJ Symphony Orchestra perform the play “Scheherazade: Arabian Tales” at the NJ Performing Arts Center.

Additionally, the Essex County Prosecutor's Speakers Bureau presented numerous programs in the community to educate, inform and empower county residents with regard to community concerns with regard to gangs as well as other criminal activity.

The Community Justice Unit teamed up with Carol Adelson, the creator of It's Your Life 411, to teach students about the consequences of various behaviors and to introduce them to careers in the public sector. The one day symposium was held at Mckinley Elementary School in Newark on Friday, May 22nd from 9:00 a.m. through noon. 200 students participated in the a program in which they were given 'real life scenarios' and interviewed service providers such a representatives from the Salvation Army, the Division of Youth and Family Services, Drug Prevention Agencies, etc. to learn how to receive assistance for their scenario. The purpose of the program is to train students to utilize service agencies.

The agency representatives treated the students as real clients and counsel them about the problems in their scenarios including how to cope with peer pressure, feelings of isolation or depression, relationship problems with friends or family, health problems, teenage pregnancy, domestic violence, internet safety, gambling issues, grief, trauma, or financial problems. Students interacted with agencies to learn resiliency strategies such as: how to interview for a job, learn about volunteer opportunities or join interesting after-school programs. Some students "experienced" the consequences of poor decision-making when they are given criminal scenarios such as participating in underage drinking, substance abuse, gangs, bullying, using weapons and other violent and non-violent criminal behaviors.

Additionally, the Community Justice Program provided support to an after-school project at Mt. Vernon School called Fellas in Training. This program was developed for young males in fourth and fifth grade to learn life skills by understanding the rules to the game of chess.

The Summer Youth Internship Program began on June 29, 2009. A total of twenty eight students from various high schools in Essex County participated in the six week internship program. This Program, which began in 2001, is designed to expose high school students from Essex County to various careers in law enforcement. The program includes a one-week residential component at New Jersey State Trooper Academy. Students received military style-training and courses similar to the program that New Jersey State Trooper recruits undergo. Interns also toured the offices of the various federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. They also attended workshops conducted by ECPO staff members on the roles and function of the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, Internet safety, driver's safety and gang awareness. The program successfully concluded on July 31, 2009.

During the six week period, the students participated in a mock grand jury proceeding. They had several field trips, including the Essex County Youth Detention Center, the Drug Enforcement Agency, the US Secret Service, the Essex County Jail, and the United Nations. The students met several Superior Court Judges and held Q & A sessions with them. They had lunch with Essex County Prosecutor Paula T. Dow, they spent a day at their local police department and learned about community policing and assisted the officers. They saw the Broadway Play 'Chicago' which is based on a homicide that occurred in Chicago in the 1920's. They toured the Essex County Prosecutor's Office Juvenile Division and sat on a juvenile proceeding. They visited the U.S. Federal Air Marshal facility in this area. They toured the ECPO Crime Scene Unit. Furthermore, they participated in the following classes: a) 'Manners"; b) Gang Awareness; and c) Megan's Law.

The students also did volunteer work at the NJ Food Bank, Hillside, NJ. The toured the U.S. Secret Service Office, Morristown, NJ, they toured the Essex County Jail, and had a working lunch with the Essex County Chief Executive, Mr. Joseph DiVincenzo.They had a full day personal development class entitled "Making a Lasting Impression" Part 1. The students visited the Essex County Environmental Center and had classes on being 'green' and saving the environment and learned about green jobs.

Before the progaram's conclusion, the students participated in classes on Alcohol and Drug Awareness, a session entitled 'David's Shoes" in which the presented talked about the devastating affect of loosing a loved one to gun violence.. They continued to work on their mock trial and meet with various members of law enforcement agencies such as the Essex County Sheriff's Office. There was an award reception at the end of the program. The guest speaker was Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc Larkins who talked about making and accomplishing goals.