Citizens Academy - Maricopa County Attorney`s Office

WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Private citizens interested in criminal justice
Business and civic organizations
Neighborhood watch and community groups
Students and members of educational
institutions
• Trade and professional associations
• Elected officials and public sector employees
LOCATION:
Maricopa County Attorney’s Office
301 W. Jefferson Street, Suite 800
Phoenix, AZ 85003
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Citizens
Academy
Maricopa County
Attorney’s Office
Map data: Google, Sanborn
Maricopa County Attorney’s Office
301 W. Jefferson St.
Phoenix, AZ 85003
(602) 506-3411
An inside look at prosecuting
crime and protecting the
residents of Maricopa County
WHAT DOES A
PROSECUTOR DO?
Stories about crime dominate the news we read and
watch every day. The headlines tell us that suspects
are caught, laws are broken, and victims suffer the
impacts of a crime. But we rarely hear or see what
happens after an arrest is made and the yellow police
tape is removed from a crime scene.
Dear fellow citizen,
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be a
prosecutor, or how a criminal case gets to trial, our
Citizens Academy is for you.
The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office is the
nation’s third-largest county prosecutor’s office with
a jurisdiction comprising nearly four million residents
across more than 9,200 square miles. Our prosecutors
handle well over 30,000 felony criminal cases each year.
The Citizens Academy takes you behind the scenes
to show you how a case progresses from the initial
investigation through final sentencing. You’ll sit in
on courtroom proceedings, take a tour of the jail, and
learn about trial exhibits, cold case investigations and
more.
Most importantly, you’ll come away with a greater
understanding of the unique role a prosecutor plays in
our criminal justice system.
I look forward to seeing you at our Citizens Academy
and showing you how the men and women of the
County Attorney’s Office work on your behalf every
day.
Sincerely,
Bill Montgomery
Bill Montgomery
Maricopa County Attorney
While the media move on to another story, prosecutors
in the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office begin the
hard work of holding offenders accountable and
achieving justice for victims. At the MCAO Citizens
Academy, you will spend a day learning how this
process unfolds and experiencing firsthand what it’s
like to prosecute a criminal case.
What you will discover is that public safety doesn’t
“just happen.” It is the result of thousands of dedicated
professionals in the criminal justice system working to
ensure that our laws are enforced so that you and your
family can go about your daily lives free from harm.
To attend the MCAO Citizens Academy, complete an
online application at MaricopaCountyAttorney.org/
Academy or call (602) 506-3411.
TO CHARGE OR NOT TO CHARGE…
AND WITH WHAT OFFENSE?
A case agent presents the findings of a criminal
investigation. Do the facts support felony
charges under Arizona law? Can the case be
proven beyond a reasonable doubt? Is there a
likelihood a jury of your peers will convict the
defendant? These are the types of questions that
confront prosecutors in the County Attorney’s
Office every day…and you’ll have a chance to
answer them yourself by participating in a
mock incident review at the Citizens Academy.
AT THE MCAO CITIZENS
ACADEMY YOU WILL:
• Learn how a case is submitted, reviewed,
and charged
• Observe a courtroom in action
• Visit a judge in chambers
• Take a tour of the County Jail
• See how cold cases are investigated
• Meet the County Attorney
• Decide how to charge a mock felony case
• Learn about crime prevention programs
The Citizens Academy is held once a month from
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
A breakfast snack and box lunch will be served.
Validated parking provided.
More information, dates and an
application for the Citizens Academy
are available at
MaricopaCountyAttorney.org/Academy
Questions? Call us at (602) 506-3411.