Citizen’s Academy

THE 2024 CITIZENS ACADEMY WILL BE HELD IN PERSON 4/25/24 – 6/13/24
APPLICATIONS BEING ACCEPTED THROUGH 4/3/24

The Yolo County District Attorney Citizens Academy is sponsored by the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office in cooperation with the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office, the California Highway Patrol, the Davis Police Department, the UC Davis Police Department, the West Sacramento Police Department, the Winters Police Department, the Woodland Police Department, and the Yolo County Probation Department.

The Citizen’s Academy is an eight-week course designed to involve diverse communities in participating in mutual learning about the criminal justice system. The goal is to educate the public and improve relationships and communication between the many different communities in Yolo County and the criminal justice system.

The eight-week academy meets once a week, usually on Thursday evenings from 6:00-8:30 p.m., beginning in mid to late April and running through early to mid June. For more information, or to enroll, please contact Wendy Wilcox at (530) 666-8356, wendy.wilcox@yolocounty.org. Class space is limited. Applicants must be 18 years of age and be connected to Yolo County through residence, work or education. The application deadline is during the first week of April annually.

Lauren Keene from the Davis Enterprise wrote an article about our Week 4 class, “High Profile Cases – People v. Daniel Marsh”, that took place on June 4th, 2015. Here is a link to her article titled: Marsh Case Illustrates Challenges of Solving, Trying Crimes.

DCTV In The Studio – The Citizen’s Academy

Yolo County District Attorney’s
Citizens Academy

Summary of Classes
in partnership with

Yolo County Sheriff’s Office
California Highway Patrol
Davis Police Department
UC Davis Police Department
Woodland Police Department
West Sacramento Police Department
Winters Police Department
Yolo County Probation Department

2024 CITIZENS ACADEMY
APRIL 25 – JUNE 13

The Citizens Academy is held annually from
Mid April to Early June
Thursdays, 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.

	SCHEDULE VARIES FROM YEAR TO YEAR AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Week One:	Welcome: Introduction to the Citizens Academy. “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 Tom Lopez Yolo County Probation Department Chief Dan Fruchtenicht California Highway Patrol Captain Ivan Tien Davis Police Department Chief Darren Pytel UC Davis Police Department Chief Joseph Farrow Winters Police Department Chief John Miller West Sacramento Police Interim Chief Rob Strange Woodland Police Department Chief Derek Kaff Overview of Public Safety Agencies Representatives from the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office and Law Enforcement Agencies. Building Bridges and Breaking Barriers – addressing the schools to prison pipeline; Creating Partnerships; Data Driven Intervention and other Innovations in Justice; Community Policing and Community Participation – “From Rhetoric to Reality – Where Do We Go from Here?” Summary: Learn how Yolo County law enforcement is addressing the homeless issue in our community. Closing remarks on community involvement and participation to achieve long-term public safety solutions and strategies. Graduation reception and ceremony. Speakers: Deputy District Attorney Diane Ortiz Woodland Police Lieutenant Heath Parsons
Week Two:	Tour of the County Jail and Coroner’s Office Summary: The Yolo County Sheriff’s Office provides a broad spectrum of services including patrol to the unincorporated areas of the County, Investigations, Court Services, Animal Services, and Jail services. Sheriff Tom Lopez is also the Coroner of the County. The primary duty of the Coroner is to determiner the cause and manner of death. Speakers: Sheriff Tom Lopez and Sheriff’s Office / Morgue staff Tour: During this session participants will tour the jail and the morgue.
Week Three:	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 how a case makes its way through the criminal justice system. Also, you will hear about the challenges facing prosecutors today, including Realignment and Proposition 47. The District Attorney’s Office will provide an overview using the case People v. Robert Hodges, a high profile triple homicide case, as an example. Speakers: Overview of the DA’s Office Chief Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Raven Anatomy of a Case Asst. Chief Deputy District Attorney Melinda Aiello Emerging Topics and/or Criminal Case of Interest Subject and speaker to be determined.
Week Four:	The Role of Other Partners in the Criminal Justice System Summary: Other players in the criminal justice system have an important role such as the judiciary and defense attorneys and Grand Jury. Speakers: The Judiciary Presiding Judge David Rosenberg The Role of the Defense Attorney Defense Attorney Steve Sabbadini Special presentation: Real DUI trial will be observed at this session.
Week Five:	Victim Services Summary: What are the rights of victims? Learn about Marsy’s Law. We will talk about these issues and the services we offer victims. You will also hear from victims and survivors. Speakers: District Attorney Victim Services Program Manager Laura Valdes Guest Victims/Survivors
Week Six:	Innovation – Restorative Justice – Collaborative Courts Summary: Learn about how partners in the Yolo County justice system have developed innovative and progressive courts to focus efforts on treating and helping defendants who commit crimes due to mental illness or addiction issues. Speakers: Chief Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Raven Supervising Deputy District Attorney Chris Bulkeley
Week Seven:	Community Focus and Gangs Summary: Learn 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? Speakers: Yolo County District Attorney’s Office Supervising Deputy District Attorney Ryan Couzens District Attorney Investigator Aaron Moe
Week Eight:	K-9 Officer Presentation & Demonstration Officer Scott Farnsworth will discuss the invaluable use of K-9 (dogs) to assist the police in protecting the public. After Off. Farnsworth’s presentation, there will be a live demonstration with K-9s from WSPD and other Yolo County law enforcement agencies. Speakers: Offiecer and K-9 Handler, Scott Farnsworth Graduation Once the K-9 presentation is completed, we will have our Graduation and certificate presentation.
	Schedule varies from year to year and is subject to change

Applicants must be 18 years of age and be connected to Yolo County through residence, work or education..
For more information, please contact:
Wendy Wilcox
Yolo County District Attorney’s Office
301 Second Street
Woodland, CA 95695
(530) 666-8356
Wendy.Wilcox@yolocounty.org

Complete Citizens Academy Application Packet 2024 in Adobe Acrobat PDF Requires Adobe Reader