Conference Educates on Bullying/Domestic Violence Prevention

WILDWOOD – The Wildwood Convention Center was the site of the “Bullying/Domestic Violence Prevention Conference” sponsored by the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office. Ed Rodgers welcomed visitors and made sure they were headed in the right direction. The event itself began at 8:30 a.m. and wrapped up about 3 p.m. The event was paid for by drug forfeiture money.
The goal of the conference was to make progress in preventing both bullying and domestic violence. The theme, according to Cape May County Prosecutor Robert Taylor, was ‘Creating Safe School Environments and Safe Communities.’
Taylor referenced some disturbing statistics. One in four women have been targets of domestic violence; 60 percent of boys who were bullies in grade school go on to commit a crime as adults; 40 percent commit three crimes by age 24.
“There is a clear connection between bullying and committing crime,” said Taylor. He said his office is focused on protecting victims but also “intervening with bullies so the cycle can be broken.”
In addition to Taylor, the day’s presenters included Allison Bressler, Gloria Sgrizzi, Michael McKnight, Detective Bryan Hamilton, Martina Singleton and Carol Realer. Claire McArdle, the Coordinator of Victim Witness Protection for the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office was on hand to answer specific questions.
The office is also tackling cyberbullying, which occurs in the virtual world accessed through the Internet by way of social media on sites such as Facebook and Twitter. It is an area the adults, such as parents need teachers, need some tutoring. Facts on this were startling. The average cyberbully starts at age nine. Forty-two percent of kids have been bullied online and 35 percent have been threatened. Most shocking perhaps is that 58 percent have not told an adult about these events.
Taylor also warned about the serious consequences of taking photographs known as “selfies.” He referenced incidents of 13 and 14-year-old girls sending semi-nude pictures of themselves to their boyfriends; when the breakup occurs, some boys will then distribute the photos to their friends.
Lots of law enforcement was present at the conference as were local social service agencies, including Debbie Brasch from Caring For Kids. “Children are our most important resource and I am here to learn all I can to help the kids and parents we work with,” Brasch said.
One gentleman who asked to be identified by his first name only, David, said he found the conference informative but wished that there had been more discussion about the rights of fathers. “Sometimes I think the men get a raw deal. I think the system views men as automatically in the wrong. But nobody should be a bully.”
“There is no quick fix,” Taylor said. “Hopefully, after a couple of generations, there won’t be a need for a conference like this. “
To contact Helen McCaffrey, email hmccaffrey@cmcherald.com.