Citizens Academy Spring 08 April 1 to June 3, 2008 Tuesday evenings, 6:00-8:30 p.m. Sacramento Police Department, 5770 Freeport Blvd. For more information, contact Karen Maxwell Assistant Chief Deputy District Attorney Citizens Academy Coordinator (916) 874-4575

Applications for Citizens Academy

To apply for the Spring 2008 Citizens Academy, please complete and return the following:

1. Citizens Academy Application Form (3 pages – complete EVERY question unless “optional”)

2. Ride Along Form – Choose ONE of the following two forms (front and back of the form):

• Police Ride-Along Program Application (if you live or work in the city of Sacramento), OR

• Police Orientation Form

• Sheriff ride-Along Program Application (if you live or work in the county of Sacramento.)

• Request for Ride-Along Waiver Form (if you are unable to participate in the Ride Along)*
  
  * The Ride- Along Program is a requirement of the Citizens Academy class. If you have a compelling reason (an example, a medical reason) why you cannot participate in the Ride-Along Program, please complete the Request for Ride-Along Waiver Form.

The deadline for applying is March 21, 2008, at 5 p.m. Return the completed Application and Ride-Along form by mail, personal delivery or fax to:

Sacramento District Attorney’s Office
Attn: Assistant Chief DDA Karen Maxwell
906 G Street, Suite 700
Sacramento, CA 95814
FAX # (916) 874-7660

Answer every question unless specified as optional. Incomplete applications may result in a delay or rejection of your application. The deadline for submitting applications will not be waived.

Notification of Acceptance

You will be notified by mail and email (if you provide an email address) of your acceptance to the Academy. You will also receive instructions on your Ride-Along requirement at that time. In the event we are unable to offer you a space at this time, we will notify you by mail. The Academy begins Tuesday, April 1, 2008.

Background

Across the country, as is in Sacramento, ethnic and cultural communities' concerns relating to the criminal justice system surface every day. In an effort to improve communication and relations between these communities and the criminal justice system and enhance multicultural and multi-ethnic sensitivity in the criminal justice community, District Attorney Jan Scully has formed the Citizens Academy. Since the first academy in 2002, there have been eight graduating academies with a total of over 300 participants.

A first of its kind, Citizens Academy provides participants with not only an important overview of the criminal justice system (the roles and challenges of law enforcement, District Attorney, and judiciary), but devotes three classes to diversity and race issues within the framework of the criminal justice system. The three topics identified for the Spring 2008 class are: Multicultural Sensitivity in the Criminal Justice System, Race as a Factor in the Criminal Justice System, and Perceptions of Disparate Treatment in the Criminal Justice System.

The Citizens Academy is designed to engage all diverse communities members in communication and participation with representatives from the criminal justice system. The mission of the academy is to provide information and resources to participants, mutual learning, critical analysis of issues, and exchange of ideas and perspectives. The vision of the Academy is to achieve improved relations and communication between members of the community and members of the criminal justice system.

Thank you for your interest in Citizens Academy. This unique 10-week Academy will provide an important overview of the criminal justice system (role of the district attorney, law enforcement, judiciary, and criminal justice system), as well as examine diversity and race issues within the framework of the criminal justice system.