Program is an innovative criminal justice education program targeted at middle school age youth.
The program was created in 1994 by the Denver District Attorney's Office, along with educational consultants. County Attorney James Backstrom learned of this program and modified it to meet the needs of his jurisdiction, including incorporating Minnesota law into the class materials. The program is a unique collaboration between local school districts and the County Attorney's Office by involving the teamwork of an Assistant County Attorney and Middle School Teacher to offer students the opportunity to directly learn from the prosecutor how our adult and juvenile justice systems work. The prosecutor serves as a positive role model while providing students the opportunity to increase their knowledge of the laws of our Nation, State and County. The program involves four class lessons taught by the prosecutor and a mock trial at the Dakota County Judicial Center, usually with an actual District Court Judge presiding over the trial.