For the abused, support in the court
The Boston Globe - October 22, 2008
She held a tissue and kept her voice steady as she sat in a Cambridge courtroom, where she was trying to persuade a judge to continue the restraining order against her husband. But when his lawyer rose and repeatedly asked her the same question, forcing her to admit that her husband had financially supported her children, she burst into tears. "If he was a good provider, why did he drain our bank account? Why did he shut off the electricity? Why did he cut off our health insurance," she said, sobbing. "Walk in my shoes for eight years."...<more>
Alliance forms to stem rise in elder abuse
The Boston Globe - October 9, 2008
Crimes against senior citizens are on the rise, and officials in Middlesex County and state offices have started a special initiative to stem the tide of elder care abuse. The Leaders in Elder Abuse Prevention, or LEAPS, initiative was launched Friday in Medford to bring together the agencies that handle cases of elderly abuse by caregivers. The hope is LEAPS will give senior citizens an easier way to prevent abuse and to report abuse when it does happen...<more>
As ‘head coach’ of team of prosecutors, Middlesex DA enjoying winning record
Exhibit A - October 7, 2008
Daniel J. Bennett still remembers the day he was late for a basketball game with Gerard T. Leone Jr., when the two were students at Harvard University. Bennett, who admittedly took his time over lunch, returned to the dorm room he shared with Leone to find the future Middlesex County district attorney pacing. “He was saying, ‘I just wasted a half-hour. I haven’t wasted that much time all year,’” recalls Bennett, today a prosecutor in Leone’s office...<more>
DA, schools address hike in cyber-bullying
The Woburn Advocate- October 1, 2008
Bullying – long a frustration for vulnerable kids, their parents and school officials – has taken a new turn, Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone said after a meeting at Woburn Memorial High School on Tuesday. Leone met with school officials as part of his ongoing Community-Based Justice (CBJ) program, aimed at identifying at-risk students throughout the county and finding ways to deter them from crime and violence...<more>
Keeping tabs on kids' safety
The Daily News Tribune - September 30, 2008
Forging strong bonds with kids and talking to them about their problems can help keep them out of trouble, said officials at yesterday's conference on youth violence. Preventing school violence was the focus of the 13th annual School Safety Summit at Bentley College attended by law enforcement personnel, educators and social workers from across Middlesex County. Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone, one of yesterday's speakers, said kids can be kept out of trouble by organizing teams of concerned adults who can reach out to troubled youngsters...<more>
DA Leone champions efforts against domestic violence, child abuse
The Boston Globe - August 3, 2008
Middlesex District Attorney Gerard T. Leone Jr. entered office quietly, winning election in an uncontested race in 2006, after the five state lawmakers who were considering running for the position dropped out well in advance. But this first term has been anything but quiet for Leone, a former Middlesex assistant district attorney, criminal chief for the state attorney general, and federal prosecutor and antiterrorism coordinator, whose office of 250 lawyers serves 54 cities and towns in the vast county and handles about 41,000 cases at any given time...<more>
Middlesex DA says there is no better job; 'Career prosecutor' is doing exactly what he wants to do
The Boston Globe - July 11, 2008
Prosecutors, especially those who yearn for higher office, have been known to flock to television cameras. But back when he was lead prosecutor in the murder trial of British au pair Louise Woodward, Gerard T. Leone Jr. let others address the media. Leone handled the opening argument, cross-examined Woodward, and convinced a jury in his closing that the 19-year-old was guilty of second-degree murder in the death of baby Matthew Eappen...<more>
A drop in home violence; Police are taking preventive stance
The Boston Globe West -June 29, 2008
Holliston police say new procedures to deal with cases of domestic violence may be showing signs of success. Seeking to prevent repeat offenses and to aid prosecutors, Police Chief Thomas Lambert changed department policy late last year to require thorough investigations of all domestic-violence cases - including the interrogations of suspects - and follow-up visits and phone calls by a designated domestic-violence police officer... <more>
Perfect storm of trials hits Woburn court
Boston Herald - Monday, June 2, 2008
Three husbands who prosecutors say murdered over money, sexual frustration and revenge all go on trial just days apart beginning today in Middlesex Superior Court. Court workers in Woburn say they’ve never seen such sensational cases hit the docket simultaneously... <more>
Columbine victim's message of compassion touches Greater Lowell school leaders
Lowell Sun - May 9, 2008
TYNGSBORO -- To the world, Rachel Scott is a tragic statistic: the first of 12 students and one teacher gunned down at Columbine High School nine years ago. To Larry Scott, her uncle, she is so much more... <more>
Middlesex DA sends out letter warning kids about drinking and driving dangers
Cambridge Chronicle, May 1, 2008
Cambridge - Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone announced Wednesday that his office, in collaboration with Middlesex County school superintendents, has sent out letters seeking to help parents protect their children from the dangers of drinking and driving during this year's prom and graduation season... <more>
Teachers become latest targets of cyberbullying
Boston Herald - April 16, 2008
She was an assistant principal at a Boston-area high school three years ago when she discovered a MySpace [website].com page under her name - carrying her photograph and a series of disturbing messages from students. “One said, ‘I want to kill her,’ ” said the woman, who asked that her name and her school’s be withheld. “It was shocking. As an administrator, you have to roll with the punches. But a number of kids who posted these messages were kids I’d thought I had excellent relationships with. You can’t say it doesn’t hurt.”... <more>
Leone: Communication key in youth safety
Newton TAB - April 8, 2008
NEWTON - If parents continually and effectively talk with their children, Middlesex District Attorney Gerard Leone said his job of prosecuting violent and sexual crimes throughout the county would be less demanding... <more>
DA convenes group of students to discuss cyber bullying
Somerville Journal - March 18, 2008
Boston - More than 1,000 middle and high school students and teachers from across New England, including students from East Somerville Community School, heard from Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone, Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley, and Anti-Defamation League (ADL) experts last Thursday at ADL’s A World of Difference Institute’s 14th Annual New England Youth Congress...<more>
New parents get new hospital drill: no shaking; Hospitals to offer baby-soothing tips
Boston Globe North/Northwest - March 2, 2008
Starting tomorrow, all parents of newborns at Winchester Hospital will receive training on how to quiet their crying babies - and how to keep themselves from lashing out in ways that could damage babies' brains or even kill them...<more>
Bill to protect kids under 18
Worcester Telegram - Februrary 28, 2008
Carol Adler was just 16 when her high school English teacher first started making advances. Adler said those moves turned sexual during her junior year, after her father died and she was at her most vulnerable...<more>
Sex offender laws beyond an easy fix
Boston Herald Editorial: - Februrary 28, 2008
Lawmakers will meet today to discuss a slew of bills dealing with serial sex offenders - timely, given recent, stomach-turning events. But we mustn’t be lulled into believing that if we simply muster enough “aye” votes on Beacon Hill it will rid our society of sickos that repeatedly flout the law...<more>
Residents review generation gap on drugs, alcohol
Boston Globe West - Februrary 21, 2008
Two out of every three Ashland High School students have used alcohol, and one out of three has used marijuana, yet 70 percent of parents in the community believe that their child has never used alcohol and 83 percent say that their child has never used drugs, according to local health surveys...<more>
Leone visits Somerville to promote public safety in schools
Somerville Journal - Februrary 15, 2008
Somerville - Somerville has not forgotten the explosive race riot of 1991 at the high school, resulting in the suspension of more than a dozen students and the emergence of a new approach to race relations a public safety...<more>
Parents pack meeting on drug, alcohol use
MetroWest Daily News - Februrary 12, 2008
Parents packed Ashland High School's Ruthfield Theater last night for a forum sounding an alarm about apparently widespread alcohol and drug use and depression among the town's students...<more>
DA: Convicted sex offenders shouldn't get trial choice
BostonNOW - Februrary 7, 2008
Following the brutal rape last week of a 6-year-old New Bedford boy by a convicted sex offender, Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone filed a bill Thursday at the Statehouse to put sexual dangerousness trial decisions back in the hands of prosecutors...<more>
Push underway to boost role of juries in dangerous sex offender trials
The Boston Globe - Februrary 7, 2008
Seeking to increase the public’s role in keeping dangerous sex offenders off the streets, officials today filed legislation that would give prosecutors the right to demand that a jury decide whether an offender is a sexually dangerous person...<more>
Team will battle 'epidemic' of domestic violence
MetroWest Daily News - Februrary 1, 2008
The number of domestic violence-related deaths statewide increased nearly three-fold from 2005 to 2007, a fact Middlesex County District Attorney Gerry Leone believes is "unacceptable."...<more>
Leone, Casey meet to discuss Legislative priorities
The Stoneham Sun - January 30, 2008
Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone recently met with members of the state Legislature, including Rep. Paul Casey, D-Winchester, to discuss legislative priorities for 2008...<more>
Leone gives students inside glimpse of Woodward case
Milford Daily News - January 25, 2008
Days before Louise Woodward's trial ended in fall 1997, lead prosecutor Gerry Leone had a brief courtroom conversation with one of her attorneys, Barry Scheck, about whether she would testify...<more>
Gerry Leone: His year began with murder
MetroWest Daily News - January 6, 2008
Gerry Leone did not have a lot of time to settle into his seat in his new office when he took the reins as the new Middlesex District Attorney last year.
Just two weeks after he took office on Jan. 4, 2007, 15-year-old James Alenson was stabbed to death in Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School on Jan. 19. John Odgren, 17, of Princeton and a student at the school, was arrested...<more>DA creates group to prevent, prosecute illegal online activity
Medford Transcript - September 19, 2007
It’s hard enough to catch criminals when they cross state lines. The vague boundaries of the Internet and the increasing number of crimes committed online — from identity theft and fraud to sexual predators trolling for victims — only adds to the challenges facing today’s law enforcement officials...<more>
DA announces creation of new domestic violence unit
Winchester Star - September 13, 2007
Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone last week chose the Winchester Police Department to announce the creation of a new Domestic Violence Unit to be overseen by his Family Protection Bureau...<more>
