A Message from District Attorney F. Paul Battisti

The school year is over, and summer is here. Before your family jumps into vacation mode, we want to take a moment to share some important reminders.

This time of year, is one of our favorites, graduations, proms, and long-awaited breaks. It is also one of the most critical times for child and teen safety. Our office wants to make sure every young person in Broome County makes it through the summer healthy and safe.

Underage Drinking
Every summer, we see an increase in alcohol-related incidents involving teens. Here is what every parent needs to know:
It is illegal to give alcohol to anyone under 21. If you allow teens to drink in your home, even if you did not buy the alcohol, you can be charged with a crime. The consequences for young people go far beyond a legal charge. Alcohol-related car crashes, hospitalizations, and arrests can change the course of a young person's life in a single night.

Talk to your teens before the parties start. Be direct about the dangers of alcohol, the reality of peer pressure, and how one bad decision on one night can have consequences that follow them for years. Make sure they understand that the risks are real and that your expectation is that they make smart, safe choices.

Keeping Kids Safe Online
School being out does not mean screens go away. If anything, kids spend more time online during the summer. A few things worth discussing with your child:

Know who they are talking to. Remind them that not everyone online is who they say they are. Make sure they know how to block and report anyone who makes them uncomfortable, and that they should always tell a trusted adult if something feels wrong.

Talk about what they share. Photos, locations, and personal information as once something is posted, it is out of your control. Have an honest conversation about the risks of oversharing, and specifically about the serious legal consequences of sending or sharing explicit images.

Use the tools available to you. Location sharing apps such as Life360 and Apple's Find My Feature, along with built-in features like Apple Screen Time and Android Parental Controls, can help you stay connected and set healthy boundaries around device use. They are not a replacement for a conversation, but they help.

Have a Safe Summer
From our office to your family, congratulations to every graduate and every student who made it through this year.

To the Class of 2026: we are proud of you and excited to see what comes next. Enjoy your summer and if you ever have questions or concerns, our office is here.

District Attorney F. Paul Battisti
Broome County District Attorney's Office