The St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office is reaching out to the local community with an open call for applications to its inaugural Citizens Academy. Facing the issues of transparency and public trust head-on, the office is aiming to demystify the inner workings of the criminal justice system through a series of interactive sessions.
Starting October 9, and spanning six Thursdays, the program plans to pull back the curtain on the processes that drive justice in St. Louis—from the moment a case is investigated to the final gavel at sentencing. While visiting the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department's Real Time Crime Center and local courtrooms, the participants, stumbling into the heart of the system, will witness firsthand the moving gears of justice.
Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore underscored the intention behind the program in a statement obtained by the St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office. "The Citizens Academy allows us to open our doors and build stronger connections with the people we serve," said Gore. He further emphasized the two-way street nature of the initiative, offering a platform for the office to also "hear directly from the community."
The endeavor is free of charge to any Greater St. Louis area resident over 18, aiming to attract a mix of community leaders, students, and other interested locals who are curious about the criminal justice system. With the applications ticking down until the deadline on September 15, the planned visits to partner agencies are likely set to open many previously closed doors, bringing transparency into places normally shrouded in professional confidentiality.
. Further program details and the application form are available via the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office news release.
