COMMUNITY OUTREACH

           The goal of the Community Outreach Program of the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office is to encourage and facilitate community participation in programs designed to heighten awareness of the needs and issues facing society in an effort to improve the quality of life throughout the county. In this endeavor, the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office has adopted the “Life Is Beautiful” theme. A Steinert High School student who has won several poster art contests was asked to design a poster that depicted life without violence, drugs and alcohol. The poster has been designed and distributed throughout our schools, hospitals, law enforcement agencies and various community based organizations. The poster depicts four main messages: Stop the Violence, Say No To Drugs, Stay Sober and Respect Others. These messages promote community awareness about the impact illegal drugs and violence has on our community.  

Community outreach is viewed as an office-wide responsibility. The Prosecutor has emphasized the importance of the Community Outreach Program by directing each assistant prosecutor to commit to at least five hours to the program’s efforts. Throughout the year the Prosecutor, assistant prosecutors and detectives give presentations to schools, the business community and various community-based organizations concerning anti-violence/anti-crime issues.  In addition, some of our staff have served as volunteers for the Trenton Area Soup kitchen, on the board of directors for the Greater Trenton YWCA, participate in the Big Brother/Big Sister program and also assist with outside youth activities that are sponsored by the Prosecutor’s Office. Members of this office have also participated in committees and activities of the Mercer County Bar Association.

The director of community outreach for the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office is directly responsible for coordinating and implementing the outreach activities. In that capacity, the director serves as the office’s liaison with other community-based organizations, law enforcement agencies and  educational institutions. The director also represents the prosecutor as a trustee with the Trenton Education Fund, serves as a member of the Weed and Seed Steering Committee, and is a member of the Mercer County Special Services School District Advisory Council.

            Throughout the year, the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office continues to expand its role in crime prevention and education  by forming partnerships and working with government officials at the state and local level as well as with educators, business and community leaders, law enforcement personnel, parents, families and religious leaders to encourage their support in making our communities and schools safe.

 YOUTH PROGRAMS

Though pleased with community participation and response to the March Anti-Violence Month programs, the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office responded to the need to promote its anti-violence and anti-crime message throughout the year.  The greatest opportunities for effectiveness lie in programs targeting school-age children.  Consequently, the office continued to devote significant resources to programs designed to divert Mercer County’s youngsters from criminal behavior.

The Prosecutor's Office continues to fully support Mercer County D.A.R.E. (Drug Awareness Resistance Education).  Whenever possible, the Prosecutor personally attends D.A.R.E. graduation ceremonies at the local schools or has an assistant prosecutor attend.  Additionally, to acknowledge all the children who through the D.A.R.E. program made a commitment to avoid drug use, the Prosecutor’s Office has donated to all the students who participated t-shirts, sports bottles and educational materials that contain the anti-violence/anti-drug message.

The Mercer County Prosecutor's Office’s highly successful educational program for first-time juvenile car thieves completed its seventh year.  This program is co-sponsored by the Mercer County Department of Human Services, New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Company, the New Jersey Automobile Dealers Association and the Insurance Women of Mercer County.  Combining education about the consequences of car theft with self-assessment, goal setting and strong encouragement to engage in acceptable forms of behavior, the program turns these at-risk youth away from engaging in repeated car thefts. Assistant prosecutors participate in the curriculum, which explains the laws and the consequences of being involved with this offense.  Juvenile offenders who participate in this program are referred through our juvenile court system.

At the Weed and Seed Safe Havens sites, the assistant prosecutors from the Family Court Unit have presented conflict resolution programs to students.  These programs, which are well received, focus on violence avoidance techniques and alternative dispute resolution.  In an effort to take the message to a larger audience, the staff of the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office increased their presence in various schools throughout the county to meet and talk with students about alternatives to drugs and violence.  During the summer months when school was out and youngsters had more time on their hands, the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office hosted and financed several outdoor activities that continue to emphasize the anti-violence and anti-drug messages. 

ANTI-VIOLENCE MONTH – MARCH 2001

            The Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office once again designated March as Anti-Violence Month.  The purpose of the Anti-Violence Month campaign is to increase the public’s awareness of violence and its consequences and to encourage the community to participate in the search for alternative solutions through education and prevention.

            Kicking off our campaign was a ceremony sponsored by this office during which a proclamation was issued by the Mercer County Executive to the Prosecutor designating the month as Anti-Violence Month.  The Prosecutor’s Office also received the cooperation and assistance of county government, the Mercer County Chiefs of Police Association, hospitals, the Youth Services Commission, local newspapers, radio and cable companies, Womanspace, Inc., Big Brothers and Big Sisters, the business community and various community-based organizations.

            A calendar art contest was sponsored for students in grades one through five.  This year’s theme was “Mercer County – Safe Streets for All.”  The winning artwork was showcased in a calendar that was distributed to every school, law enforcement agency, municipal and county government office,  hospital and community organization.

            The Prosecutor’s Office also hosted the “Buddy Program” in the Mercer County Courthouse.  This program invites students to spend a day with assistant prosecutors to observe the criminal justice system at work.

            The Grace Dunn Middle School hosted a volleyball tournament, which was sponsored by the Prosecutor’s Office.  All four middle schools in the Trenton school district participated.  The theme for the tournament was Sports Instead of Violence.  Office staff participated and also talked to the students about the anti-violence initiative.  Plans are underway to expand this program to include other middle schools throughout the county.

For the past several years, Hedgepeth-Williams Middle School has hosted a Peace Rally  program designed by the students recognizing the anti-violence month efforts.

            Every Tuesday during the month of March, members of the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office were featured on  “Violence Serves No Purpose”, which was aired on WIMG/WZBN radio and cable television stations. Topics featured were domestic violence, illegal drugs, child abuse, violent crimes and arson. The programs were hosted and narrated by Morris Broadcasting Inc. Staff also appeared throughout the year on the program “In The Public Interest,” discussing the law and the courts. This program was also hosted by WIMG/WZBN.

            Local police departments continued their involvement by promoting responsible gun ownership to reduce gun-related accidents.  Officers also conducted community lectures and seminars at various senior citizens’ sites addressing personal safety.

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