The Role of the Prosecutor:
Istwa Pwogram nou an:
Nan mwa mas 2021, Depatman Lapolis Hingham te kontakte biwo Avoka DistriK Plymouth la pou mande finansman pou akizisyon yon chen konfò pou Kominote Hingham. Aprè rechèch benefis yo ke yon chen konfò ta ka bay lapolis ak kominote respektif yo, Avoka Distri a Tim Cruz te bay Depatman Lapolis Hingham ak yon sibvansyon konfò pou kòmanse yon pwojè pilòt ki byen vit elaji nan Pwogram Konfò Konte Plymouth la.
Avoka Distri a Cruz devlope Pwogram Konfò Konte Plymouth la pou bay sèvis adisyonèl ak resous pou tout kominote ki nan Konte Plymouth. Biwo Avoka Distri Plymouth la bay yon mini-sibvansyon pou Plymouth Depatman Lapolis konte pou ede ak depans ki asosye ak trape, fòmasyon ak pran swen chen konfò yo.
Konsepsyon nou an:
Our program is designed to be implemented by either the local School Resource Officer or the Police Department’s Community Outreach Officer, who in turn become the dog’s handler and sole caretaker. Both the handler and the comfort dog become members of the Plymouth County Comfort Dogs Program and are required to undergo all necessary trainings in the certification process to qualify as a comfort and community resource dog. Both the handler and comfort dog are available to assist not only in their community, but in all communities across Plymouth County as part of our regional response team.
Konsènan Pwogram nou an:
Rezo Plymouth County Comfort Dogs yo prezan nan lekòl nou yo pou bay elèv yo sipò emosyonèl pandan lajounen, ak kominote a nan mitan lannwit ak nan wikenn. Ekip moun kap okipe ak chen konfò nou yo travay ak anplwaye Biwo Pwokirè Distri Konte Plymouth la nan evènman kominotè atravè Konte Plymouth ak alavni, yo pral bay sèvis konfò tou nan Sant Defans pou Timoun ak biwo nou an. Ekip chen konsolasyon nou yo disponib kòm yon pati nan ekip repons rejyonal nou an pou bay èd mityèl bay kominote yo nan moman kriz.
Objektil nou:
Kriz opioid la te anpil afekte pa sèlman Massachusetts, men Plymouth Konte an patikilye. Konte nou an malerezman temwen dè milye de twòp ak lanmò twòp, anpil nan yo te jèn adilt. Efè rip la pwolonje byen lwen nan kominote a kòm fanmi, zanmi, vwazen, ak lekòl yo eseye fè fas ak konsekans lan. Chen konfò nou yo ap pwouve yo dwe yon avantaj fòmidab pa bay sèvis konfò bay moun ki nan kominote yo ki te afekte pa riple sa yo.
Misyon ak objektif Pwogram Konfò Konte Plymouth la se bay konfò ak sipò emosyonèl pou byennèt timoun ki an danje dwòg, elèv ki gen Eksperyans Timoun Advèsè (ACES), ak lòt moun ki mande pou sèvis sa a nan kominote Konte Plymouth la.
Ekspansyon nou an:
Currently, we have 24 trauma-and-crisis trained dogs and handlers in our program. 23 of these dogs are covered by the DOJ / BJA-COSSUP Drug Endangered Children’s Initiative Grant.
In January 2024, the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office received approval for a change of scope to our existing DOJ / BJA-COSSUP Drug Endangered Children’s Initiative Grant. The DOJ approved the reallocation of $447,000.00 to the Plymouth County Comfort Dog Program for training, equipment and an academic evaluation of our program for 17 of our comfort dogs that regularly visit our K-12 schools.
In October 2024, the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office applied for further funding through the DOJ/ BJA Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program (COSSUP) for the Plymouth County Comfort Dog Program, and received an additional award of $1.6 million dollars in funding for up to 27 dogs. This new grant will enable us to strengthen, improve and expand our existing program with the overarching goal of reducing the impact of illicit opioids, stimulants and other substances on youth and families in our community.
With grant funding, the Plymouth County Comfort Dog Program will undertake prevention intervention efforts that seek to reduce the harms associated with ACEs among individuals who have already experienced them and provide support for building protective factors against potential harmful experiences. The objectives of our project are to (1) enhance the depth and quality of collaboration between law enforcement, service providers and school systems; (2) expand substance use education and prevention programming that connects law enforcement with youth; (3) increase access to drug take back programs for the community at large; (4) conduct evaluation to assess program impact.
Beyond prevention programming for K-12 students, the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office will also work with Bridgewater State University to provide substance use education and prevention efforts on campus.
Additionally, our Plymouth County Comfort Dogs will attend community events across Plymouth County and will regularly visit our senior centers and hospitals upon request.