Community Resources and Response to Camp Lenox Arrests

As our community grapples with the charges facing three

Somerville High School students that include aggravated rape and assault with

intent to rape, we remain focused on the most important action we can take at

this time, which is providing the support and services needed for the victims,

students and community to heal.

We are working with the Somerville Trauma Response Network,

Boston Area Rape Crisis Center, Somerville Police Department Victim Witness

Advocate and Riverside Trauma Center to coordinate appropriate support services

and provide information to those immediately impacted, as well as to the

broader community. We are also providing support to Somerville High School

teachers to ensure that staff are able to connect students to any and all

support they need. Counselors will be available before, during and after school

to support students and staff, and direct them to whatever services they need.

All students will be presented with resource information as well today in their

Advisory Groups. Small discussion groups and educational sessions for the

community are being planned as advised by our expert partners and counseling

staff. 

These plans follow the informational and support meetings conducted

last week for all team members and the parents and guardians of team members

who attended the camp, ensuring they all have access to appropriate services. Services

are available to community members and school families who may need them, and we

are planning now for educational and support forums for the school community and

broader community members to be held in the near future.

We are moving this week to establish a Student Travel Safety

Committee with both community and student representation alongside outside

experts and school administrators and staff. 

This committee will review existing policies and procedures, evaluate

current travel safety protocol and practices, and make recommendations for

changes in procedures.

Because this an ongoing investigation into an alleged crime,

specific information about the allegations and circumstances surrounding the ensuing

charges must be provided by the Berkshire County District Attorney’s Office,

which remains in charge of this investigation.  We will respect the legal process that will

determine the facts and again thank Berkshire County District Attorney David Capeless

and his office, Middlesex County District Attorney Marian

Ryan, and the Massachusetts State Police for their speed and diligence in

investigating these allegations.

At this time, the investigation by the Berkshire County

D.A.’s Office provides no indication that anyone other than the three

individuals arrested have been implicated, and found that this was a single,

isolated incident. No other victims have been identified. However, anyone with

information related to this incident or any other act of aggression that has

not been reported, should contact the Somerville Police, the Berkshire District

Attorney’s Office, or the school (numbers below). The alleged incident occurred

during the day at the annual sports camp held at Camp Lenox in Otis,

Massachusetts, rented by the City for the annual summer sports camp for the

boys’ soccer, football and girls’ soccer programs. At this year’s camp, 165

student-athletes attended, accompanied by 20 adults.

We remain moved by the courage shown by the victims in

speaking up, in awe of the compassion shown by our students and whole community

in response to these sad and disturbing allegations, and will continue to focus

our energy and efforts on providing support to all those impacted by this

incident and in helping our community begin the healing process.

Support services and important numbers:

Somerville Police Department:           617-625-1600

Berkshire District Attorney’s Office:                       413-443-5951

Somerville Public Schools Student Services:         617-629-6233

Somerville Public Schools' Bullying Hotline           617-629-5222 

or by emailing bullying@k12.somerville.ma.us

(This line may be used to report any aggression or personal safety concerns and

it is completely anonymous.)

Somerville Trauma Response Network:               857-221-0942

Boston Area Rape Crisis Center 24-hour hotline:   800-841-8371

Clinical Youth Specialist:                                   617-625-6600

ext. 4325

Somerville Teen Connection at SHS:                 617-575-5690

Guidance Center Referral Line:                         617-354-2275

Cambridge Health Alliance Referral – Adults:       617-591-6033

Cambridge Health Alliance Referral – Kids:           617-665-3458

Mass. Substance Use Helpline:                           800-327-5050

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Press Contact: Denise Taylor

617-625-6600 ext. 2103