County officials are inviting the public to participate in a 10-week program designed to further understanding of the criminal justice system and the workings of the District Attorney's Office.

The free Citizen's Academy will be from Sept. 9 to Nov. 12. Three-hour classes will be held once a week starting at 6 p.m. at the Joan Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice at the University of San Diego in Linda Vista.

Speakers from the District Attorney's Office and the Sheriff's Department are expected to discuss topics including cold-case homicides, narcotics, gangs and the prosecution of sexually violent predators.

For more information or to make a reservation, call the District Attorney's Office at (619) 515-8294. Information is available at www.sdcda.org.

The application deadline is Tuesday.