Albany School of Humanities sixth-graders

to see the justice system first-hand

ALBANY, N.Y. (November 1, 2007) -- Albany County District Attorney P. David Soares announced today the revival of the Legal Lives program. Legal Lives was founded in 1990 by Charles J. Hynes, district attorney of Kings County, as a response to the increase in drug and bias-related crimes. Former District Attorney Sol Greenberg brought the program to Albany County, where it served elementary school children for many years, but ended when he left office.

As an assistant DA, Soares taught students as part of the Legal Lives program and realized how beneficial it can be in the life of a young person growing up in Albany. Fulfilling a promise he made to himself, Soares and Assistant DA Jessica Blain-Lewis presented the first lesson in the Legal Lives curriculum today to three sixth-grade social studies classes at Albany School of Humanities (ASH). Read more about the program in the Dec. 13 Times Union.

The program will run the length of the school year and will involve DA' s staff, private attorneys, members of law enforcement, judges and teachers who will all work together to teach students about the law and its role in their lives. The students will hold mock trials throughout the year, playing a variety of roles in exploring the judicial process.

The Legal Lives curriculum is written specifically to increase the students’ knowledge of the law and to prevent juvenile delinquency through the development of critical and analytical thinking skills. Lessons in the curriculum examine relevant case materials related to drug possession, shoplifting, violence, gun possession, domestic violence and bias crime.

These lessons, which encourage interactive learning through role-playing and group discussions, culminate in a mock trial. Issues raised in the classroom are reinforced through trips to the courts, police precincts and the DAs office.

For further information, please contact Heather Streeter Orth in the DA's office at (518) 275-4704.

The City School District of Albany serves approximately 9,000 students in 18 elementary and middle and high schools. The district includes several magnet schools and programs, as well as other innovative academic opportunities for students in addition to neighborhood schools. The district is more than halfway through its comprehensive facilities project to newly build and/or renovate nearly all of its elementary and middle schools. The ultimate goal of the facilities project is to provide schools with the resources necessary to help students succeed in the 21st century.