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Sarasota News Leader July 4, 2013 Page 47 JUNIOR LAW ACADEMY GRADUATES ITS LATEST CLASS On Friday, June 21, more than 30 incoming seventh-graders graduated from the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office Junior Law Academy (JLA), the Sheriff's Office announced. dle-school students who will be entering the seventh grade. "The students, who are selected by school administrators and school resource deputies, must be good citizens and The two-week program introduces students to cannot have any arrests or disciplinary referthe legal system by teaching them about law rals," the release points out. enforcement, courts and corrections, a news In addition to exposing the students to a varirelease notes. "They also learned about crime ety of law enforcement activities and career scene investigations, polygraph techniques paths, school resource deputies facilitate and defensive tactics and saw demonstrations by the K-9, Mounted Patrol and Bomb Squad team building and leadership development initiatives throughout the two-week period, units, the release adds. the release continues. The Sheriff's Office Youth Services Section held the first JLA in June 2001 at the Sara- The JLA has received national recognition for sota Criminal Justice Academy, the release its innovative approach in promoting relationsays. The JLA "basic academy" is held for ships between community residents and law two weeks each summer with 30 to 40 mid- enforcement officers, the release adds. Sheriff Tom Knight and other representatives of the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office gather with the most recent graduates of the Junior Law Enforcement Academy. Contributed photo