Increase in Fatal Overdoses, Teen Violence Focus of DA's Presentation to Educators and Law Enforcement

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan spoke to Metro West educators and law enforcement officials Wednesday morning as part of the annual Community Based Justice Breakfast in Framingham, hosted by South Middlesex Regional High School, commonly known as Keefe Technical High School.

Ryan spoke about two important issues facing teens in all communities in Middlesex County: substance abuse, particularly opiates and the increased number of drug overdoses, and teen dating violence.  

Attendees included Keefe Tech Superintendent Jon Evans, Framingham Police Chief Ken Ferguson, Ashland Police Chief Craig Davis, staff from the Middlesex District Attorney’s office, school officials, police officers, district and juvenile court officials and other participants in the Community-Based Justice program.

The annual event serves as a thank you to all participants in the program from the Greater Framingham region. Students from Keefe Tech’s culinary department prepared and served the breakfast.  

“Community-Based Justice is one of our most important prevention and intervention programs,” District Attorney Ryan said. “By bringing all of the juvenile justice stakeholders together, we can identify students in need of services, address community needs, and create healthy and safe school environments.  This network of school personnel, public safety professionals, and social service providers promote public safety and social responsibility among youth while working to provide at-risk youth with positive alternatives to crime and violence.”

Ryan recognized Judge Robert Greco for his many years of service and collaboration with the MDAO, police and the community.

In addressing the attendees, District Attorney Ryan highlighted her office’s goal to expand prevention and education programs for youth, collaborating with its non-profit partner, Middlesex Partnerships for Youth, Inc.   

She spoke of the opiate abuse epidemic, which has results in 80 fatal overdoses in Middlesex County so far this year, and plans for additional education and training initiatives for students, staff and parents.

Ryan also urged educators and law enforcement to be mindful of teen dating relationships and to pay attention to the warning signs of an abusive relationship.  The DA’s office will continue its teen dating violence prevention effort, including programs across the county for parents and school staff to learn how to spot the signs of dating abuse in teen relationships.  

Community-Based Justice was created in Middlesex County in 1991 and is now a state-mandated program to coordinate discussion and information sharing about high-risk or court-involved students.  

The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office convenes weekly, bi-weekly and monthly Community-Based Justice meetings in 45 cities and towns across the county.  

At Community-Based Justice meetings, prosecutors, educators, police officers, probation officers and social service providers focus on individual students whose conduct has raised concerns about their health, safety and well-being.  This conduct-driven discussion helps the schools, the police and the District Attorney's Office work together to take preventive steps and intervene in addressing problems in the community before a juvenile's conduct leads to negative consequences.  

As a result, not only does Community-Based Justice help address the needs of court-involved students, but the meetings also foster a safer learning environment for all youth.