MORRIS COUNTY, N.J. — The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office continues to expand its anti-bias and bullying outreach program, visiting schools across the county to educate students on responsible behavior and the consequences of online activity.
Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Samantha DeNegri and Sgt. Patrick LaGuerre recently presented the program at Mount Olive Middle School on Feb. 13 and Frelinghuysen Middle School on Feb. 26.
The initiative, which has reached both public and private schools, has also been presented in Sussex, Union and Warren counties over the past year.
Officials said the program is designed to provide students with important information while fostering direct connections between law enforcement and young people.
During the presentations, DeNegri and LaGuerre emphasized the lasting impact of social media and digital communication.
They advised students to be mindful of their online activity, noting that while not every action leads to a criminal investigation, content shared online can remain accessible indefinitely.
DeNegri also warned about the legal consequences of sharing explicit images, explaining such content can be distributed beyond its intended audience.
LaGuerre told students that while the First Amendment protects free speech, it does not override school codes of conduct, particularly regarding how students treat one another.
Presenters also stressed that Morris County maintains a zero-tolerance policy for threats of school violence, even when students claim comments were made as a joke or out of frustration.
Officials added that during investigations, law enforcement can obtain data from electronic devices and applications, including material users believe has been deleted.
