The D.A.R.E. Unit of the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office was formed in November of 1989 and is responsible for the training and coordination of the D.A.R.E. program throughout Hudson County.

Beginning in September 2003, the new revisions to the Program, as underwritten by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Akron University, went into effect. The Core Program, for 5th or 6th graders, will be will be reduced from 17 weeks to 10 weeks and will emphasize facilitation techniques instead of lecture. The 8th grade curriculum has also been revised and it will be ready in September. With the April Facilitation Training complete, Hudson County is the first county to have all their officers trained.

Successful continuation of the "D.A.R.E. To Resist and Violence" Summer Basketball League will begin in late June and run until the end of August. The league, sponsored by the Prosecutor's Office, stresses positive alternatives to drugs and violence and ways to avoid each. Last year, 3300 children grades 3 thru 9 took advantage of this program.

The winter "D.A.R.E. To Resist Drugs and Violence," Basketball League just concluded competition. Over 1500 children grades 3 thru 8 have participated and over 17,500 students have been involved in the Winter and Summer Leagues to date.

It is through the support of  Prosecutor Edward J. De Fazio, Chief of Investigations Assistant Prosecutor John J. Hill, and all the Chiefs of  Police in Hudson County, which has enabled the D.A.R.E. program in Hudson County to thrive and flourish.

If you have any questions regarding the D.A.R.E. program, please contact Detective Daniel Diaz, at (201)795-6959.