For Release: August 9, 2006
Contact: J. Tucker Martin or David Clementson
Email: jtmartin@oag.state.va.us or dclementson@oag.state.va.us
Phone: 804-786-2071
McDonnell Unveils New “Class Action” Workbook for Virginia Schools
--“Class-Action” Workbook to be Taught in 87 School Districts—
HAMPTON – Attorney General Bob McDonnell today announced his new interactive “Class Action” workbook for teenagers, to be taught in classrooms across Virginia this school year by 184 police officers. The new workbook coincides with the 10th anniversary of the innovative and successful “Class Action” program. McDonnell unveiled the new workbook during his speech to the nearly 550 police officers and teachers participating in the annual School Safety Conference at the Hampton Convention Center.
“Through our “Class Action” program, teenagers learn more about the law than most of us learned in school when I was growing up,” Attorney General McDonnell noted. “Students can make good choices for the rest of their lives, and enjoy learning at the same time. On this 10th anniversary of our “Class Action” program, this new workbook will reach students and their parents in 87 localities across Virginia.”
Along with quizzes and “Did you know?” info boxes, the 55-page workbook includes sections on drugs, driving, internet safety, crimes against persons, crimes at school, vandalism, and the basics of Virginia law.
The “Class Action” program has enjoyed documented success in the Commonwealth. An independent study of “Class Action” in 2002 showed that students gained a 42.5 percent increase in knowledge of Virginia’s criminal code, 87 percent enjoyed the class, 92 percent rated the law enforcement instructor well, and 90 percent of teachers praised the strengths of the program.
Attorney General McDonnell created the new workbook with the help of his “Class Action” staff, the Virginia Department of Education, Virginia State Police, the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services, other law enforcement officers, education officials, commonwealth’s attorneys, court service personnel, and the U.S. Department of Justice Office of C.O.P.S.
For more on the Class Action program, visit http://www.vaag.com/KEY_ISSUES/CLASS_ACTION/index.html.
