Providence Reporter

PROVIDENCE, RI – United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha announced today that his office is set to launch Circles and Silence programs in Rhode Island schools statewide for a fifth consecutive school year. Additionally, U.S. Attorney Cunha launched an Internet Safety resource page on the Rhode Island U.S. Attorney’s Office website, providing families with important information to help protect children while on the internet.

The Circles and Silence program and the Internet Safety resource page, which includes an important public service announcement from U.S. Attorney Cunha to parents about ways to help protect kids from online threats, are part of several U.S. Attorney’s Office community outreach initiatives related to crime prevention, enforcement, protecting individuals’ civil rights, and assisting victims.

“Whether it’s the risk of opioids and addiction or the threat posed by online predators, the back-to-school season is the perfect time for parents to make sure that they talk to their kids, understand the threats they face online and in the community, and partner with us in the effort to help keep our children and communities safe,” remarked U.S. Attorney Cunha.

The Circles and Silence Program is an education and outreach model that addresses opioid addiction, prevention, and recovery. It is built around a five-time Emmy-nominated documentary film produced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The film is narrated by a diverse group of Rhode Island young adults whose personal stories delve into their journeys of drug dependency and recovery. The film documents their paths from addiction—sometimes leading to prison—to successful management of addiction and working daily toward productive lifestyles. In addition to sharing their stories, individuals who appear in the film participate in conversation sessions with students.

To date, more than 30,000 Rhode Island students and community members across the state have attended Circles and Silence programs. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will kick off the new school year on September 17, 2024, with a presentation at Cranston East High School. Later that same day, there will be a program on elder abuse and elder fraud at the Salvatore Mancini Senior Center in North Providence.

Visit the U.S. Attorney’s website to learn more about these initiatives and other outreach programs offered by the United States Attorney’s Office. To schedule a Circles and Silence presentation or any outreach initiative program contact Community Engagement & Crime Prevention Coordinator David Neill at (401) 709-5035 or David.Neill@USDOJ.gov.