The winning entry, entitled "A Cry For Help," was submitted by a group of students from Somerville High School. The students involved in the video were: Mitch Freitas, Jason Corey, Aakash Sharma, Jerry Alphonse, Anthony Bohan, and Stefanie Vivian. To view the winning video,please click here

The District Attorney's Teen Dating Violence PSA project, created in conjunction with Middlesex Partnerships For Youth, Inc. and REACH Beyond Domestic Violence, was initiated in an effort to spark a positive dialogue and encourage teens to speak out against teen dating violence. Launched in April, it asked high school students from throughout Middlesex County to create and produce their own PSAs on the issue of teen dating violence.

A total of 35 entries were submitted by more than 200 students from throughout the county. The six PSA finalists were then selected from those entries by a panel of school personnel, domestic violence experts,and members of the Middlesex District Attorney's Office.

Those six PSA finalists were then viewed and voted on by more than 1000 high school students in health and physical education classes throughout Middlesex County.

"This was a project for teens by teens, and our hope with the project was to help spark a positive dialogue about healthy relationships," District Attorney Leone said. "We want to congratulate today's winner and commend all of the students who participated in this project for their leadership in speaking out against teen dating violence. They have helped send a clear message that physical and verbal abuse have no place in a healthy relationship."

Now, the winning students will work with staff from Conover Tuttle Pace (ctpboston.com), a Boston Advertising and Public Relations Firm, to professionally edit the video. The final video then will be submitted to Boston television stations for airing.

Teen dating violence has long been a focus of the District Attorney's Office and domestic violence service organizations like REACH. However, the recent incident in which pop star Chris Brown was charged with allegedly assaulting his girlfriend, Rihanna, has placed a new spotlight on this troubling dynamic.

Among the statistics that demonstrate the challenges we face regarding the issue of teen dating violence:

1 in 3 teenagers report knowing a friend or peer who has been hit,punched,kicked, slapped, choked or physically hurt by their partner.

Youth, specifically between the ages of 16 to 24, experience the highest per capita rate of intimate partner violence in the nation.

Following news reports on the alleged incident between Chris Brown and Rihanna, a survey of Boston teens revealed that 46% of respondents believed that Rihanna was in some way responsible. In addition, 44% said that fighting was a normal part of a relationship.

In the contest, high school students from Middlesex County communities were asked to produce and submit their own 30 or 60-second PSA about the issue of teen dating violence. Topics could include, but were not limited to:

Speaking out against abuse

Understanding that physical and verbal abuse is never an a cceptable part of a healthy relationship

Recognizing abusive behavior or an abusive relationship

Stepping in and standing up to abusive behavior by a friend

After receiving the 35 entries, a panel of domestic violence experts, school personnel and members of the Middlesex District Attorney's Office selected the six finalists. State Representative Cory Atkins (Concord), a leading advocate on the issue of domestic violence, served on the panel along with members of the domestic violence advocacy community including staff from from Jane Doe, Inc., REACH Beyond Domestic Violence and Voices Against Violence.

Also serving on the panel were school administrators and counselors from various high schools, members of the Middlesex District Attorney's Office, and Mark Bappe, Creative Director at Conover Tuttle Pace.

The six finalists that were selected by the panelwere:

"A Cry For Help"

Students: Mitch Freitas, Jason Corey, Aakash Sharma, Jerry Alphonse, Anthony Bohan, and Stefanie Vivian.

Somerville High School

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"Just Because He Doesn't Hit You"

Students: Kelly Sullivan, Christian Sullivan

Bedford High School

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"Speak Against Teen Dating Violence"

Students: Christine Bondanza, Bobby Bennett, Matt Roach, Colin Alexander

Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School, Marlborough

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"She Changed"

Students: Tom Kennedy, Haley Lynch, Jeff Wairi, Josh Sperat, Alex Chisholm

Somerville High School

to view, please click here

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"Take A Stand"

Students: Taylor Dube, Richie Carbone, Amy DeCelles, Sara Elwell, Samantha Gumtow, Kim Haley, Kasaey Hill, Nichole Layon, Evan Lord, Dan McCauley, Michael O'Connell, Briana Wiley

Shawsheen Valley Technical High School, Billerica

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"End The Cycle Of Abuse"

Students: Jaharah Samson, Aida Rivera, Brian Ramonno, Marianne Oliveira, Gardy Elivert, DeAndra Davis, Jessica Davis,Bryan Christie, Andrew Beckford-Rosario, Maranjellie Abreu, Mathews Alves de Sousa, Richard Monexant

Everett High School

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To learn more about teen dating violence, please visit:

·www.reachma.org/pavenet

· http://www.loveisnotabuse.com

· http://www.safeyouth.org/scripts/topics/dateviolence.asp

Since he began serving as Middlesex District Attorney in January 2007, Leone has launched a number of initiatives to better serve victims and enhance the investigation and prosecution of domestic violence cases. Leone created the office's Domestic Violence Unit, a team of specific prosecutors and victim witness advocates charged with investigating and prosecuting DV cases. That unit also offers comprehensive trainings for local police departments as well as organizes community-based Domestic Violence Roundtables throughout the county.

In addition, Leone created a first-of-its-kind program to help victims of domestic violence during the restraining order process. Specifically, because prosecutors are not allowed to represent victims during that process, Leone's office has partnered with private law firms to help assure that victims are afforded pro bono legal services during these restraining order hearings that are critical in helping victims extricate themselves from abusive relationships. Leone's office has also partnered with organizations to form community-based DV rapid response programs.