District Attorney Ryan and Members of the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable Assemble Gift Bags for Survivors of Domestic Violence

WAYLAND – District Attorney Marian Ryan and members of the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable came together on February 12, 2018 to assemble more than 65 Valentine’s Day gift bags for survivors of domestic violence in Wayland. The bags which contained items including clothing, toys, toiletries and books, were donated to families living in shelters and transitional homes through REACH Beyond Domestic Violence, The Second Step and Voices Against Violence; non-profits that offer services to survivors of domestic abuse.

District Attorney Ryan also spoke to attendees about the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office’s community-based partnerships and initiatives to address domestic violence in Middlesex County including Cut It Out in Middlesex, a program launched in 2009 to educate high school vocational programs, professional training academies and private salons to recognize the signs and symptoms of domestic abuse. To date, the District Attorney Ryan has trained approximately 2,200 individuals through the Cut It Out Program, including students at seven vocational technical high schools in Middlesex County

In an effort to expand Cut It Out training across the Commonwealth, District Attorney Ryan has partnered with State Representative Christine Barber to spearhead legislation that would require licensed aestheticians, barbers, cosmetologists, electrologists, hairdressers, manicurists, and massage therapists to complete one hour of domestic violence and sexual assault awareness training.

District Attorney Ryan has also worked to expand the Domestic Violence Pro Bono Initiative, a first-of-its kind partnership was designed to address a significant gap in services for domestic violence survivors in the restraining order process. Assistant District Attorneys cannot represent survivors of domestic violence in the restraining order process because the order is a civil document, so the Office identifies victims who need legal assistance and then, working with 13 Boston area law firms, assigns a private attorney to provide representation in the restraining order matter free of charge.

Recently, District Attorney Ryan donated the proceeds of over 160 forfeited cell phones to REACH Beyond Domestic Violence, an organization that raises community awareness about domestic violence and provides support and services to survivors and their families. The cell phones, obtained through the drug forfeiture process, are priced and recycled for parts; the monetary value of the parts goes directly to REACH Beyond Domestic Violence and is used for phone-related services to benefit victims and survivors of domestic violence.

The Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Roundtable is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting safe and healthy relationships, raising public awareness about abusive and controlling behavior and ending relationship violence through education and providing services to survivors of domestic violence.