January 15, 2026 – East Longmeadow, Massachusetts – Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni recently joined members of his office for a classroom visit with eighth-grade students at Birchland Park Middle School in East Longmeadow as part of the office’s ongoing Adopt-a-Class community outreach program.

The visit on Tuesday, Jan. 6, marked the final first-visit session for the District Attorney this school year. During the presentation, students learned about the role of the District Attorney’s Office, how the justice system works, and the responsibilities prosecutors carry both in the courtroom and in the community. While the presentation mirrored those delivered in other participating classrooms, the discussion was driven by thoughtful and wide-ranging student questions.

Students asked about the realism of legal television shows, where aspiring attorneys should consider practicing after law school, how lesser-known laws are enforced, and how many cases an individual prosecutor may manage at one time. One particularly astute student posed a question the District Attorney was not expecting — whether he ever fears retaliation or revenge as a result of the work he does.

“That kind of curiosity is exactly why this program matters,” said District Attorney Gulluni. “The questions these students asked were thoughtful, honest, and showed they were really thinking about how the justice system works and the responsibilities that come with it.”

The Adopt-a-Class program pairs assistant district attorneys and staff with classrooms throughout Hampden County for multiple visits over the course of the school year. Through age-appropriate discussions and open dialogue, the program is designed to build trust, encourage civic engagement, and help students better understand the justice system and the role it plays in their communities.

The District Attorney’s Office will continue visiting participating classrooms throughout the remainder of the school year as part of its commitment to education, prevention, and community connection.