SAN DIEGO (Press Release)–District Attorney Bonnie M. Dumanis announced on Tuesday, Feb. 21, that her office has signed a partnership agreement with the San Diego Unified School District that allows both organizations to support student achievement through various activities and programs, including mapping juvenile crime around schools in order to streamline services to specific regions and expanding programs such as the Youth Advisory Board and an innovative curriculum aimed at breaking the cycle of gang violence.
“This new partnership will allow us to identify more students who are at risk and hopefully keep them out of the criminal justice system,” DA Dumanis said. “Today’s agreement with San Diego’s city schools brings more of us to the table so we can work cooperatively to keep young people from slipping through the cracks.”
As part of the agreement, juvenile crime mapping data around schools will be shared and evaluated to determine the needs of particular communities. Some District Attorney-led programs already in place will be expanded, including the Youth Advisory Board and a curriculum that which helps students avoid negative relationships that may lead to victimization.
The memorandum of understanding was signed Tuesday between the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office and San Diego Unified’s Race, Human Relations & Advocacy Program. The intent of the partnership is to support student achievement and to provide mutual assistance and benefit through shared time and resources. The mission of the partnership is to promote community collaboration and provide support to ensure that San Diego students are involved in public safety prevention and intervention efforts.
“The San Diego Unified School District is looking forward to assisting the mission statement of the District Attorney’s Office through helping students make better choices so they avoid destructive behaviors that lead to punitive outcomes,” said Agin Shaheed, Program Manager of the District’s Race, Human Relations & Advocacy department.
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Preceding provided by District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis’s office