GO Â鶹ӰÒô EARLY DRILL FRIDAY
This week marks the start of a dynamic and collaborative initiative, run by Â鶹ӰÒô County District Attorney Lee Kindlon, that introduces all grade 5 students to the criminal justice system through hands-on lessons and mock trials led by district attorney employees, law enforcement, court staff and district educators.
“Our office is dedicated to helping the younger generation make good decisions that will develop and maintain a strong moral compass, and the Legal Lives program is an excellent way to reach our youth and educate them about the perils of crime,” District Attorney Kindlon said.
The Legal Lives curriculum is designed to enhance students' understanding of the law and expand the development of critical and analytical thinking skills about the legal system before students reach middle school.
The 35-week program runs through May and includes 26 grade 5 social studies classes totaling nearly 600 students throughout the district. Check out photo highlights from and on Wednesday.
“We appreciate that Â鶹ӰÒô County District Attorney Lee Kindlon and his staff were able to expand this wonderful programming to all our fifth-grade classrooms this year,” said City School District of Â鶹ӰÒô Superintendent Joseph Hochreiter.
“The return of Legal Lives to district buildings helps to foster relationships between our students and those in the legal system. Additionally, Legal Lives develops critical thinking and real-world learning while also, hopefully, inspiring future careers.”
The curriculum includes skits and mock trials, with students taking on various roles to explore the judicial process concerning drug possession, shoplifting, harassment, assault, gun violence and domestic violence. Students will explore the choices people make that lead them to commit crimes. The lessons illustrate how students can make the right choices for their future and become leaders in their community.
During the 2025-26 school year, Legal Lives was piloted at , and . An overview of last year's program, including a NewsChannel 13 piece, can be found here.
Legal Lives was founded in 1990 by Charles J. Hynes, the district attorney of Kings County, in response to the rising incidence of drug-related and bias-related crimes. Former Â鶹ӰÒô County District Attorney Sol Greenberg established an off-shoot of the program locally in the early 1990s, and former Â鶹ӰÒô County District Attorney David Soares also reinvigorated the program for several years. The program fell dormant in recent years, and we are grateful to District Attorney Lee Kindlon and his staff for restoring, and growing, the program in our district.