An innovative law education program developed by the Arkansas Attorney General's Office will be featured during a rural criminal justice issues conference to be held this summer.

The "Smart Choices, Better Chances" program was chosen as a national model and will be discussed in July at Community Research Associates' conference in Nashville. The conference is designed to give state administrators of the Edward Byrne Memorial grant program a closer look at rural criminal justice issues.

The Smart Choices program is one of 20 programs to be featured at the conference. Hundreds of programs from throughout the United States and its territories were reviewed.

Although statistics in recent years have shown an increase in juvenile crime across the country, Arkansas is the first state to implement a law education program such as Smart Choices, Better Chances.

According to Attorney General Winston Bryant, the program provides intensive education about laws, crime and consequences while emphasizing the importance of making good choices. Bryant says the program not only provides students with a basic understanding of the criminal justice process, but also educates young people about the specific laws that affect them.

The Smart Choices program focuses on laws dealing with criminal street gangs, youth violence, weapons, and controlled substances. Videos, charts, and activities are used while teaching the program to help make the learning experience both informative and exciting for participants.

Younger students (grades 4-6) receive concentrated information through a series of one-hour lesson plans. An assembly-type format is available for junior and senior high students, and in-service training is offered to teacher and parent groups.

Some of the issues addressed through the program include ages at which juveniles become eligible for circuit court and reviewing which crimes are punishable by incarceration. Legal terms such as burglary, robbery, assault, battery, misdemeanor, and felony are discussed. Facts are presented about the consequences of taking weapons onto a school campus and information is given about how individuals can be charged as a criminal street gang member.

The program also focuses on victimization and the impact that all crimes have on individuals and on society. A dramatic video is shown to provide a sobering look at life in the Arkansas prison system.

The program has received an overwhelming response from both student and adult audiences. Attorney General Bryant says that his office has received a flood of requests to present "Smart Choices," and his office is now training volunteers to be instructors for the program. Free training seminars are offered to individuals interested in volunteering in the Smart Choices program.

To learn more about becoming an instructor or having the program in your community, call the Outreach Division of the Arkansas Attorney General's Office at 1-800-448-3014.

You can send email to this program at gingerb@ag.state.ar.us