The Citizenship and Justice Academy:
Sentenced to Learn
A Program that Teaches Our Cadets that Character Counts
The Citizenship and Justice Academy: Sentenced to Learn was developed in 2002 by Associate Professor Thomas E. Payne, an Administration of Justice Instructor in the College of Science and Technology at The University of Southern Mississippi.
The CJA offers specialized services to local at-risk youth between the ages of sixteen (16) and twenty-one (21) years of age who are entering Harrison County’s judicial system within the state of Mississippi.
National statistics reveal more than half of all adult offenders committed their first crime as teenagers. That’s why the Citizenship And Justice Academy seeks to correct any and all educational or vocational deficiencies in their lives—thus, delivering services to literacy-deficient and other disadvantaged youth with the goal of ultimately reducing recidivism and helping them to become productive adults; adults who are capable and willing to contribute to society rather than living a life of crime that many feel is their destiny.
Upon referral by the Courts to the Academy, these individuals are assessed to determine if they are qualified to participate in the program—and if so, they are further assessed to determine their learning level. Cadets are then required to attend not less than 80 hours of classroom instruction, which focuses on character building and civic education. They, too, are obligated to complete 40-hours of community service with one of our non-profit community partners. During this work-week, Cadets are exposed to job shadowing opportunities, which we hope will provide them with valuable knowledge and skills in addition to fulfilling their duty to society—such that they will become motivated, encouraged and/or inspired to pursue a new skill or trade upon completion of the same.
They are then tracked on a case-by-case basis via case management and weekly mentoring participation, whereby the specialized-services are rendered on a case-by-case basis to ensure their life’s success.
Cadets must complete one hundred and twenty (120) hours to receive the appropriate credential—forty (40) hours of character development during the first week; forty (40) hours of civic education during the second week; and forty (40) hours of community service during the third week with one of our local non-profit community partners.
Cadets are exposed to job shadowing opportunities during this work-week whereby we hope to aid them in gaining valuable knowledge and skills in addition to fulfilling their duty to society—such that they will become motivated, encouraged and/or inspired to pursue a new skill or trade upon completion of the program.