New Jersey Criminal Defense Blog

A recent shorenewstoday.com story discusses the recent success of Oakcrest High School’s participation in New Jersey’s School Violence Awareness week from October 19-23, 2009. As one of many schools that took part in the state-wide awareness week, students found themselves listening to anti-violence discussions from law enforcement personnel and participated in a series of activities that both helped inform them about potential dangers and stressed the importance of character and social awareness education. According to the article, the State of New Jersey provided guidelines for the required awareness week.

Based on the report, Oakcrest High School had representatives from the Hamilton Township Police Department and the New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission address freshmen health classes regarding the juvenile justice system, crime statistics, and the consequences of gang membership. In addition to these talks, teachers focused their lessons distinctively on teasing and bullying, and unique assemblies were put on to help motivate students to both recognize and make positive choices. To demonstrate that they were internalizing all the maters being discussed, students made posters, wrote skits, and dance classes created their own choreography inspired by conflict and resolution scenarios.

In recognizing the reality that violence awareness should be upheld at all times in a school-setting, Oakcrest High School implements a year-round peer mediation program run by student mentors to help identify problems before they lead to violent acts. Other efforts by the school to protect its students from violence or other harmful acts include visitor buzzer access to the building, bus evacuation drills, fire drills, staff and visitor ID badges, and school lockdown practices.