Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office recently concluded our school presentation program on bullying, internet safety and the dangers of social media. Prosecutor Billhimer, along with staff from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, spoke to over 20,000 students in Ocean County during the 2022-2023 school year. Between October 2022 and May 2023, more than 30 staff members from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office visited 70 schools where we delivered 145 multi-media presentations to students in grade schools, intermediate schools, and high schools throughout the County. Developed by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Juvenile Unit, the multi-media presentations included valuable information about the dangers of social media, bullying and cyberbullying. The presentations stressed the importance of students exercising good judgment in their interaction with one another, online and in school.
The presentations also included three Challenge Day Programs, which were held at Barnegat Township High School, Toms River High School North, and Lacey Township High School. Challenge Day – sponsored by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office – brought together 100 students, school staff members, and adult volunteers from the community for a full day of exercises and dialogue about bullying, harassment, conflict management, and other important issues effecting students. The Challenge Day Program is designed to unite students, and empower them to carry out the program’s objectives throughout the school year and beyond.
“I am thankful to all of our staff for taking the time to speak to our youth. We had Assistant Prosecutors, Detectives, Victim Witness Advocates, Agents and Clerical staff here in our office volunteer to be a part of this presentation program. We received positive feedback from students, teachers and administrators regarding the presentations – and we are looking forward to doing it again next year,” Prosecutor Billhimer said.