Boston Globe North - September 22, 2009

Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone swung by Andrews Middle School last Friday to see the Community Based Justice (CBJ) Program - a countywide school safety initiative - in action. He gave the joint effort at Andrews and McGlynn middle schools high marks, roughly three months after its launch.

“It’s working very well,” Leone said, adding that the city is building off of a successful CBJ program at the high school, thanks in large part to the leadership of Mayor Michael McGlynn and Superintendent Roy Belson.

The program launched at several Middlesex County high schools in 1991 under then-District Attorney Thomas F. Reilly, with Leone directing operations as a young prosecutor.

While the program has expanded to include all county high schools and, beginning in 2007, most middle schools, the basic model remains the same. Assistant district attorneys meet regularly with school resource officers, principals, and social service providers to identify students who have recently been charged with crimes, especially violent acts.

School officials have several options after the meetings - which are confidential - including suspension, separation from other students, and other sanctions. While parents of the accused are not present at meetings, officials bring them up to speed soon after, according to Leone.

He noted that some students are steered toward alternative learning programs - which vary from district to district - to meet their needs and protect the well-being of their peers.
As the middle school program moves forward, Leone wants to focus on cyber safety and bullying. In a statement, his office cited a 2005-2006 Globe analysis finding that 53 percent of all instances of school violence in the state occurred in middle schools, compared to 47 percent in high schools. Nationwide, 94 percent of all middle schools reported violent incidents in 2006, up from 87 percent in 2000, according to the US Department of Education.

To combat this trend, Leone has directed every participating school to assemble a Threat Assessment Team of staff members who can identify possible trouble spots.

Leone called the CBJ program - which operates at no additional cost to taxpayers, since law enforcement and school personnel meet during regular hours - a national standout among school safety initiatives.

“I don’t know of a single program that’s as comprehensive,” he said.