Former Mass . Attorney General to Lead New Investigation into St. George's Abuse

By John Bender
Rhode Island Public Radio
January 12, 2016

http://ripr.org/post/former-mass-attorney-general-lead-new-investigation-st-georges-abuse

St. George's School

A former Massachusetts Attorney General has been hired to spearhead a new investigation into allegations of sexual abuse at St. George’s prep school in Middletown, Rhode Island. Scott Harshbarger of Boston will take up the inquiry into the school.

A group of alumni has accused former teachers and faculty at the school of sexual misconduct in the 1970s and 80s.

That same group deemed an initial investigation not thorough or impartial enough, because the investigator worked for a law firm which also represented the school.

The alumni pressed the school for a new inquiry into the allegations with an investigator approved jointly by the group and the St. George’s board of trustees.

Harshbarger is a prominent Boston lawyer, and served as Attorney General of Massachusetts from 1991 to 1999.

Anne Scott, the St. George’s alumnus, who spearheaded efforts to get a new investigation, wrote in a statement. “These preliminary agreements represent further progress for alumni victims,” said Scott. “While there is much more to be accomplished, we hope to work productively with the Board and new counsel for the School.”

In the same statement, the school also announced a partnership with the trauma advocacy and support group Day One. The organization will provide mental health services for alumni affected by abuse that occurred. St. George’s has committed to paying for the services.

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