PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

From: Elizabeth D. Scheibel

Northwestern District Attorney (ret.)
Date: May 5, 2011

ELIZABETH D. SCHEIBEL, RETIRED NORTHWESTERN DISTRICT

ATTORNEY, RELEASES THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT ADDRESSING
THE RECENT COURT ACTION REGARDING THE FORMER SOUTH
HADLEY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL AND
DELINQUENCY OFFENSES RELATING TO THE DEATH OF FIFTEEN YEAR
OLD PHOEBE PRINCE OF SOUTH HADLEY:

A little more than a year ago, as Northwestern District Attorney, I

sought criminal indictments and juvenile delinquency complaints against six
former South Hadley High students relating to the death of Phoebe Prince.
That action, the result of an extensive and lengthy police investigation,
culminated in criminal charges being returned by a grand jury and approved
by a clerk magistrate. At the time, I said that there would be some who
believed that my actions were too severe, and others who believed them too
lenient. As these cases reach resolution in the courts, under the authority of
another district attorney, the same might be said about the dispositions. My
thoughts then, as they are now, were focused on bringing some measure of
accountability, and acknowledgement of responsibility, to those whom,
investigation revealed, repeatedly harassed a fifteen year-old girl as she
simply sought to attend ninth grade, at a new school in a foreign country.

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Without the initiation of these criminal charges, there would have been no
accountability or responsibility for the perpetrators’ wrongdoing.

As is often the case, in negotiated criminal dispositions, perpetrators are

allowed to admit to less serious charges. In doing so, the public learns very
little of the facts giving rise to the charges. Certainly, that is the case here.
The public may never fully learn of the facts that supported each and every
charge in these cases.

Throughout this difficult process, I have kept in touch with the Prince
family. To some degree, the enormity of their loss has been obscured by the
media attention and resulting commentary of those unfamiliar with the facts
of this case. My thoughts remain with Phoebe’s family, as they remember
their daughter and sister. They have shared with me many memories of
Phoebe. I am acutely aware of what Phoebe’s family and friends must feel
so profoundly, the senseless loss of this beautiful, unique and gifted person,
with her loving, idealistic and poetic nature.

At this time, a measure of justice has been achieved through the conduct of a
full investigation, appropriate charging and use of the court system, with
acknowledgements of responsibility and accountability. While this case will
fade from the public’s mind, it will never fade for Phoebe’s family and
friends. Let Phoebe’s death and that of others whose lives have been lost as a
result of bullying, be the rallying cry to stop these senseless tragedies.
Bullying is learned behavior that can, and must, change. If there is some
good that results from this case, let it be that we, as a culture, will no longer
tolerate bullying.