Yolo County District Attorney’s
Citizens Academy
Summary of Classes
in partnership with
Yolo County Sheriff’s Office
Davis Police Department
Woodland Police Department
West Sacramento Police Department
Winters Police Department
Yolo County Probation Department
SPRING 2012
Thursdays, 6-8 PM
Application Package
(406 kb) <-- Click here (Requires
Free Adobe Acrobat Reader)
The deadline for applying is April 23, 2012. Applicants must be 18 years of age. Return the
completed Citizens Academy application and Ride-Along application by mail, personal delivery or fax
to:
Yolo County District Attorney’s Office
Attn: Wendy Wilcox
301 Second Street
Woodland, CA 95695
FAX: (530) 666-8423
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.
Course Outline
|
Week One:
5/3/12
|
Welcome:
|
Introduction on
Citizens Academy and “It Takes a Community…” What can a concerned citizen do to make our community a better place to live?
|
| Summary:
|
Welcome to
Citizens Academy with an overview of the next eight weeks and the participating agencies.
|
| Speakers:
|
Introduction and Overview of the Academy, Mission & Welcoming Remarks
District Attorney Jeff Reisig
|
| Welcoming Remarks
|
Yolo County Sheriff Ed Prieto
Yolo County Probation Department Chief Marjorie Rist
Davis Police Department Chief Landy Black
Winters Police Department Chief Sergio Gutierrez
Woodland Police Department Chief Dan Bellini
|
| The Judiciary and the Grand Jury
|
Yolo County Superior Court Assistant Presiding Judge
Steven Basha
Grand Jury Foreperson
|
| Overview of Public Safety Agencies
|
District Attorney’s Office Representative
Yolo County Sheriff’s Office Representative
Local Law Enforcement Representatives
Yolo County Probation Department Representative
|
|
|
|
Week
Two:
5/10/12
|
Topic:
|
The Role of the District Attorney and Challenges: “Law &
Order”
|
| Summary:
|
While prime time television shows such as “Law &
Order” capture ratings and audiences, they fail to show the day-to-day work of the District Attorney. We will provide an overview of the District Attorney’s Office and its Mission:
Justice Finds No Solace in Delay. Learn about the various units in the office, filing decisions, case resolutions and challenges facing prosecutors today.
|
| Speakers:
|
Intake, Filings, and Case Resolutions
Yolo County District Attorney Representative
Juvenile Cases –Remands, Direct File Cases
Yolo County District Attorney Representative
|
|
|
|
|
Week
Three:
5/17/12
|
Topic:
|
Federal Criminal Justice System
|
| Summary:
|
We will be focusing on the federal system of justice and how it differs from the state system. How is it decided whether a case is prosecuted federally or in state court? How do judges learn how to be a judge? What types of crime
do the FBI investigate?
|
| Speakers:
|
United States District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller
United States Attorney’s Office: U.S. Attorney Representative
Federal Bureau of Investigations: FBI Representative
|
|
|
|
|
Week
Four:
5/24/12
|
Topic:
|
Special Challenges of Prosecution --- Three Strikes; Special Circumstances; 10/20/Life; Domestic Violence and Victim Services Division
|
| Summary:
|
What are some of the unique challenges faced by the District Attorney’s Office? How are Three Strikes cases decided? How do we handle Domestic Violence cases? What are the rights of victims and Proposition 9? We will talk about these issues and the services we offer victims.
|
| Speakers:
|
Director of Victim Services Program Manager Laura Valdes
Yolo County District Attorney Representatives
|
|
|
Week
Five:
5/31/12
|
Topic:
|
Race as a Factor in the Criminal Justice System
|
| Summary:
|
The issue of race continues to be raised on
complex issues such as racial profiling.
Learn
about law enforcement training on racial
profiling and efforts to open lines of
communication between law enforcement and the
communities they serve.
The commission addressing racial
profiling, a study on patrol stops and relevance
of race in prosecution will be discussed.
|
| Speakers:
|
Law Enforcement Representatives
District Attorney’s Office
Chief Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Raven
|
|
|
Week
Six:
6/7/12
|
Topic:
|
Role of Law Enforcement and Internal Affairs: “To Serve and Protect”
|
| Summary:
|
Over the years, the role of law enforcement has expanded to meet the changing and growing needs of the community. We will discuss with police and sheriff representatives the roles and perspectives of law enforcement, the Reviews Boards, and the District Attorney’s role, as well as outreach to the diverse communities. Internal Affairs representatives will discuss their role, departments and process.
|
| Speakers:
|
Panel Discussion on Internal Affairs and the Review Process
Overview of Internal Affairs
Law Enforcement Representatives
Davis Police Department Lt. Colleen Turay
District Attorney’s Office
DA Chief Investigator
Review Boards
Inspector General—Speaker TBA
Bob Aaronson – Independent Police Ombudsman, City of Davis
|
|
|
Week Seven:
6/14/12
|
Topic:
|
Community Focus and Gangs
|
|
Summary:
|
There is much more to the criminal justice system than the high profile cases we see on television or read about in the newspaper. Learn about a special unit which focuses on street gangs. What constitutes a gang? Who are the members? What does it mean to be a “gang” member? What can communities do to help prevent this problem and combat it today? These are a few of the issues to be addressed.
|
|
Speakers:
|
Yolo County District Attorney Representative
Local Law Enforcement Representatives from Gang Task Force
Davis Police Department Officer Keirith Briesenick
Woodland Police Department Gang Expert
|
|
|
Week Eight:
6/21/12
|
Topic:
|
Building Bridges and Partnerships: Community Policing and Community Participation –
“From Rhetoric to Reality – Where do We Go from
Here?”
|
|
Graduation
|
|
|
Summary:
|
Reflections on the first nine weeks and a look forward to continue the dialogue. Closing remarks on community involvement and participation to achieve long-term public safety solutions and strategies. Graduation reception and ceremony.
|
|
Speakers:
|
District Attorney Jeff Reisig
Yolo County Sheriff Ed Prieto
Davis Police Department Chief Landy Black
Winters Police Department Chief Sergio Gutierrez
Woodland Police Department Chief Dan Bellini
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2008
- 2009 Biennial Report (2.16 MBs)

(Requires
Free Adobe Acrobat Reader)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|