Prosecutors' School Safety Conference Theme: Cyber-bullying

PRESS RELEASE
July 27, 2011
For Immediate Release
Contact: Bernie Weisenfeld- PIO

This year’s Southern New Jersey Prosecutors School Safety and Security Conference will focus on the sometimes deadly consequences of bullying, particularly when it spreads on-line, which was the keynote speaker’s tragedy.

Previously limited to educators and law enforcement officials from seven South Jersey counties, the fifth annual conference on Aug. 17 will be open to the general public. Admission is free. Pre-register at cyberbullying@co.gloucester.nj.us.

“The goal of this conference is to safeguard our children by raising awareness regarding on-line activities that can change lives and sometimes have deadly consequences,” said Gloucester County Prosecutor Sean F. Dalton. “A collaborative approach involving law enforcement, educators, community leaders, parents and, most importantly, students, is needed to accomplish this.”

Conference speakers will include New Jersey Attorney General Paula Dow and John P. Halligan, who speaks across the country about the 2003 suicide of his 13-year-old son Ryan a silent victim of taunts and insults in school and on-line when the Halligan family lived in Vermont. The tragedy led to a Vermont bullying prevention law in 2004. New Jersey’s anti-bullying law, considered the nation’s toughest when enacted in January, requires schools to publicly report incidents and permits expulsion of offenders. It takes effect in the coming school year.

In addition, Sgt. Steve LaPorta of the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office will speak about the unforeseen consequences of “sexting,” a popular activity in which a teenager’s nude or semi-nude images are transmitted electronically. Sgt. LaPorta for the past seven years has investigated a variety of online crimes that target young people.

The Aug. 17 conference, to run from 8:30 a.m. to noon, will be held in the TD Bank Performing Arts Center at Washington Township High School, Hurffville-Cross Keys Rd, Sewell. A continental breakfast will be served and registration held from 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

Sponsors are the prosecutor’s offices of Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Salem, Cumberland, Salem and Cape May counties.