Sacramento County District Attorney's Office: Recruiting 2015 Citizens Academy Class

Media Advisory: Recruiting 2015 Citizens Academy Class

Learn about the criminal justice system, internal affairs and in-car cameras ~ Discuss issues related to racial profiling, gang & hate crimes and current sensitive community issues ~ Tour the County Jail, Juvenile Hall and Communication Center ~ See a canine and taser demonstration

The Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office, the Sacramento Police Department and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department are proud to announce their 15th Citizens Academy.

The academy was created to improve communication, foster a better understanding and develop relationships between members of the criminal justice system and our ethnic, cultural and faith-based communities as well as all citizens. Since the start of the academy in 2002, there have been 14 graduating classes with more than 800 participants.

This program provides an overview of the criminal justice system (law enforcement roles, responsibilities and challenges) and engages citizens from all backgrounds in discussion, participation and mutual learning about issues within the criminal justice system. New topics this year include current sensitive community issues and how Prop 47 affects the judicial system.

Representatives from the DA’s office, Public Defender’s Office, law enforcement, the judiciary, and community organizations will present information, answer questions and address community concerns.

There is NO cost to participants. The 10-week course is held Tuesday evenings starting April 7, 2015 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Sacramento Police Department headquarters (5770 Freeport Blvd., Sacramento).

The deadline for submitting applications is March 13, 2015

Application Forms: http://www.sacda.org/communityrelations/citizens-academy/

Program Contact: Cecile Velasco at 916.874.7428 or velascoc@sacda.org

Tentative 2015 Class Schedule & Topics:

Week 1: “It Takes a Community” – What Concerned Citizens Can Do to Make Our Community a Better Place to Live

Week 2: The Role of the District Attorney: Anatomy of a Prosecution & Special Challenges for California Prosecutors – Three Strikes Law, Prop 47, Re-Alignment

Week 3: Specialized Areas of Prosecution: Victim-Sensitive

Week 4: “The Big Picture” – The Hypothetical Case: Anatomy of a Criminal Case From Offense, Investigation, Trial, Sentencing

Week 5: Race as a Factor in the Criminal Justice System – Racial Profiling

Fieldtrip: Sacramento Police Department’s Communications Center – Use of Force, Defense
Training

Week 6: Seek Justice. Serve Justice. Do Justice. – Current Sensitive Community Issues

Week 7: Hot Topics in the Justice System – Realignment, Human Sex Trafficking
Fieldtrip: District Attorney’s Office, County Jail, Courts & Public Defender’s Office

Week 8: Federal Criminal Justice System

Week 9: Community Focus & Gangs

Week 10: “From Rhetoric to Reality – Where Do We Go From Here?” – Building Bridges & Partnerships: Community Policing, Community Participation

*Fieldtrip to Juvenile Hall: Date TBD