The Cambria County District Attorney´s Office considers information to one of our most
powerful crime-fighting tools. That is why we have developed a set of community outreach
educational programs – many of which are presented through the schools.
In addition, we offer a comprehensive online resource guide that individuals can access via our website. Information in the “Resources” section contains links to a vast number of sites that provide valuable, free information on cyber crime, alcohol and drug abuse.
Educational Programs
Community Programs
- Town Meetings
- Town Meetings are typically held in conjunction with events at local
schools such as parent/teacher nights. This allows the DA´s office to provide
any number of existing programs to area residents as part of a school
event. Upcoming Town Meetings will be posted on the “News & Events” section
of this website.
- Courthouse Tours
- The District Attorney´s Office is happy to host student groups and other
organizations to tour the beautiful and historic Cambria County Courthouse.
Interested parties should contact our office at 814-472-1680.
- Identity Theft Seminars
- Identity Theft is a growing problem that threatens each and every county
resident. To combat that threat, the District Attorney´s Office has created
an informative program that teaches attendees strategies for avoiding identity
theft. If your organization would like to host an Identity Theft Seminar,
contact our office at 814-472-1680. Check the “News & Events” section of this
website for upcoming seminars.
Drug Programs
- DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance & Education)
- DARE is a national program that began in the 1980´s to teach
elementary-aged students about the dangers of drug use. The program's
take-home components provide an excellent opportunity for parents to
reinforce the message. DARE´s added benefits are that it helps school
districts meet federal drug education requirements and provides an
opportunity for kids to have direct contact with law enforcement officers.
Paid for by state grant funding, the DARE Program is available at no cost and is currently embraced by 4 county school districts. The program is presented in a classroom rather than an auditorium setting and lasts 45 minutes, about the same as a typical class.
- Sixth Grade Drug Awareness Program
- This program is available to all county schools, both public and
private. It features a presentation by a young drug offender who has
finished his or her jail sentence. Hearing about the horrors of drug
abuse from someone close to their own age brings the message home in a
powerful way to a sixth grade audience. The program also includes a
Q&A session and a demonstration by the Drug Task Force K-9 Unit.
- Drugs 101- Drug Awareness for Teachers & Parents
- This program, often presented through the schools, is designed to teach
parents and teachers to recognize the signs and symptoms of drug abuse in order
to help them detect potential drug problems in their homes and classrooms. To
schedule Drugs 101 for your school or organization, call the District
Attorney´s Office at 814-472-1680.
- Youth Fairs
- The Youth Fair program is a summertime variation of the 6th Grade Drug
Awareness Program that is presented throughout the summer at playgrounds across
the county.
Alcohol Programs
- Ninth Grade Alcohol & Driving Safety Awareness Program
- Automobile accidents are among the leading causes of death for people
between the ages of 16 and 24. This program is designed to create awareness
of the dangers of drunk driving among an audience of young people who are
within a year of obtaining their licenses. The program includes presentations
by Gerald Ramsdorfer who, although he had not been drinking, failed to pay
attention, ran a stop sign and killed a mother and her two children. And by
Dan Springer, another young, local man who is now permanently mentally and
physically handicapped after he crashed his car while drunk. An Assistant District Attorney
also reviews the legal penalties associated with drinking and driving.
