New Court Docket Targets School Violence

The Allegheny County District Attorney's Office has created a new docket that is specifically designed to handle school violence. Stephen A. Zappala Jr. says the docket was created after Woodland Hills school officials made him aware of their problems with school violence. The Pittsburgh Public School District has its own problems: the number of aggravated assaults on teachers has been rising. The newly created docket will present cases two times a month in front of a specially-designated judge. The system is aimed at curbing violence by making the punishment more severe and swift. The program also calls for an anti-bullying campaign that targets elementary school children and cyber-bullying.