Youth Programming

Digital Citizenship Academy

Middlesex District Attorney Marian T. Ryan offers a Civic Online Reasoning program – “Digital Citizenship Academy” -- for any Middlesex County-based high school or youth program interested in participating. This program provides students access to a first-of-its-kind, best-in-class, and research-based critical thinking and reasoning curriculum developed by the Stanford History Education Group and it is taught by District Attorney Ryan and volunteer Assistant Middlesex District Attorneys.

Back-to-School Safety Jeopardy

District Attorney Ryan teaches young children, grades K-5, about the best ways to stay safe during the school year.  Topics discussed include safety related to riding the school bus, walking to school, bicycling to school, playing outdoors and bullying.  Students then play a game of Jeopardy to review the topics.

Cut It Out Middlesex

The intimate nature of cosmetology work puts hairstylists, estheticians and other salon professionals in the unique position to observe signs of abuse and serve as confidants for their clients.  Modeled after the national Cut It Out training program, Cut It Out Middlesex aims to raise awareness around the issue of domestic violence at the earliest stage of students’ professional development.  District Attorney Ryan teaches students from vocational high schools how to spot signs of domestic violence and how to safely refer clients to local community service providers.  A representative from the local police department and a community-based domestic violence advocate also provide additional information about resources that are available within the community.  

Through the service learning component of the program, students also offer cosmetology services and lunch to survivors of domestic violence. 

Internet Safety

What young people do online can have legal implications and lead to safety concerns in real life. District Attorney Ryan discusses the consequences of interacting with strangers online, sharing personal information, cyberbullying and sexting.  This program engages students about using technology responsibly and safely.  The program can be tailored for parent or student groups.

Focus on Teens - Post Prom & Graduation Donations

Too often we encounter situations where what should have been a joyous occasion turns tragic. Whether it is drunk driving, distracted driving, experimentation with drugs, teen dating abuse, or sexual assault, we have made it a priority to proactively address these issues with teenagers both in schools and in the community. Recognizing that teens are more likely to seek help from a friend than an authority figure, we have utilized our partnerships with school districts across the county to promote good decision making, bystander intervention, social responsibility, and youth leadership among teens.

Every year, the Middlesex District Attorney's Office provides grants to public schools in Middlesex County for substance-free after-prom and graduation events. Our youth-based education and outreach work is critical to keeping our teens healthy and safe both inside and outside of school.

District Attorney Ryan provides grants from our drug forfeiture program to help to defray the costs of expenses for substance free post-prom or post-graduation events.

Summer Safety Jeopardy

District Attorney Ryan teaches children, grades K-5, about the best ways to stay safe during the summer. Topics discussed include safety related to pools and water, bicycles, fireworks, windows and cars. Students then play a game of Jeopardy to review the topics. 

Smart Choices Program

Good decision-making takes practice. As part of this program, District Attorney Ryan leads students, grades 6-9, in an exercise designed to help young people think critically about their decision-making and to encourage them to make healthy choices.  Students are provided with various scenarios and they analyze how they would handle each situation.  These scenarios involve topics such as cyberbullying, sexting and substance use.  Students’ responses lead to an engaging discussion in which they are encouraged to consider the possible consequences of their choices.

Social Host Liability

Prom and graduation season is a time of celebration for young people.  It is also a time when teens may engage in underage drinking.  In an effort to reduce the alcohol-related risks during this time, District Attorney Ryan educates parents about the social host law and the potential liabilities associated with hosting social gatherings with minors. 

Boy Scout Merit Badge Clinics

We offer various Merit Badge clinics for Boy Scouts who live in Middlesex County, helping them work toward the attainment of merit badges in the following areas:  Law, Crime Prevention, Safety, Fire Safety, Traffic Safety, Fingerprinting, Railroading, Search and Rescue, and Fish and Wildlife Management.