Sponsored by:
Atlanta Citizen Review Board
Deadline: September 16, 2013
Contest Theme:
“Police officers in my
neighborhood are…”
Grades: 6 - 8
Essay must focus on the contest theme “Police in my
neighborhood are…”
Prizes!
250-500
words!
For more information
and Official Rules:
www.acrbgov.org
or contact
Myola Smith 404-865-8622
1st Place:
$150.00 School Shopping
Gift Card and Plaque
2nd Place:
$75.00 School Shopping Gift
Card and Certificate
3rd Place:
$25.00 School Shopping Gift
Card and Certificate
* The Atlanta Citizen Review Board (ACRB) is an agency of the CITY OF ATLANTA *
Official Rules
Atlanta Citizen Review Board (ACRB) Middle School Essay
Contest
Grades 6 – 8
“Police officers in my neighborhood are…”
The Atlanta Citizen Review Board is committed to educating citizens and officers about proper
interaction between citizens and law enforcement.
The purpose of the Atlanta Citizen Review Board (ACRB) Writing Contest is to promote
discussion and understanding of proper interactions between youth and law enforcement through
the creative expression of words.
This contest is an opportunity for high school students to express their views on what proper
interactions with law enforcement look like in their communities.
Contest Deadline:
The contest will officially begin on July 8, 2013. All students submitting an entry must deliver
their essays to the designated drop off location (see below) no later than Monday, September 16,
2013 by 5:00 p.m. Entries may be received any time after July 8, 2013, but must be received or
postmarked on or before September 16, 2013.
Drop Off Location:
Atlanta Citizen Review Board (ACRB)
55 Trinity Avenue, Suite 9100
City Hall Tower
Atlanta, GA 30303
Entries may also be mailed to:
Atlanta Citizen Review Board (ACRB)
55 Trinity Avenue, Suite 9100
City Hall Tower
Atlanta, GA 30303
Contest Eligibility:
All students living in the City of Atlanta in or entering grades 5 through 8.
Contest Theme:
“Police officers in my neighborhood are…
Contest Rules:
1. One entry per student. Student must live in the city of Atlanta and be in grades 5
through 8.
2. Essay must reflect the contest theme: Essay must address the theme: “Police officers
in my neighborhood are…”
3. Essay must be between 250 – 500 words. Essays over 500 words will be disqualified.
4. Entry form must accompany submission.
Selection of Winners:
Entries submitted will be judged by a five-member panel, consisting of ACRB Board and Staff,
other city officials, an English teacher, and a community member.
Criteria for Judging:
Essays will be evaluated for proper grammar and correct spelling, as well as the following
criteria:
1. How well does the essay express the writer’s observation and/or experiences of police
officers in the writer’s neighborhood?
2. How well does the essay describe the role of citizen and police officer interactions?
3. How well does the essay express the writer’s observations of or experiences with police
officers in their neighborhood and how those observations or experiences affected how
the writer feels about police officers?
4. How well is the essay organized to express the writer’s thoughts?
5. How effective is the essay in expressing the writer’s point of view?
Content (55%)
• Reflect the experiences of the writer, the writer’s family, or writer’s friends
• Explains the impressions of observing officers in the writer’s community
• Analyze how the writer’s interactions or the interactions of the writer’s family or friends
with the police has influenced the writer’s thoughts about police officers
• Describe experiences with vivid details and specific language.
• Demonstrate in-depth reflection and critical thought about the experience.
• Develop analysis in an interesting manner, relevant to readers.
• Provide any lessons learned or suggestions
Presentation (45%)
• Communicate ideas clearly
• Well-organized
• Correct syntax, grammar, spelling, and punctuation
• Written in compelling and original manner
Essay Format:
• double spaced
• 1 inch margins
• page numbers
• essay title
• 12 point font (Times New Roman/Cambria/Calibri/Arial)
All essays must be factual. Fictional stories will be disqualified.
All personally identifiable information will be redacted from entries shared with the ACRB for
judging purposes. Each prospective winner and his/her parent or guardian will be notified on or
about September 23, 2013 via certified US Mail.
Entries, and all rights in winning entries, become the property of ACRB and will not be returned.
Each prospective winner and his/her parent or guardian agrees to be bound by the Official Rules,
and the decisions of the judges are final in all matters relating to this Contest.
Each prospective winner and his/her parent or legal guardian will be required to sign, notarize,
and return, within ten (10) days of date of notification: (1) an affidavit of eligibility/compliance
with the rules and statement of originality and verification of address; (2) a publicity release
permitting the ACRB to (i) use the winner's name and school information and/or winner's essay;
and (ii) reprint the winner's submission, in whole or in part, in any future publication(s); and (3)
attend an official recognition ceremony.
Each entrant and his/her parent or guardian hereby release and hold harmless the ACRB from any
and all claims, demands, losses, promises, causes of action, and liabilities arising out of the
preparation for or participation in this Contest, or any use/misuse of any prize (or any portion
thereof) awarded.
The ACRB assumes no responsibility or liability for the selection of any winner. The acceptance
of any prizes constitutes a release of ACRB from such responsibilities and liabilities.
Prizes:
First Place – $150.00 gift card for school shopping and a plaque
Second Place – $75.00 gift card for school shopping and a certificate
Third Place – $25.00 gift card for school shopping and a certificate
Winners will be selected from all entries.
Winner Notification:
Winners will be notified via certified US Mail by September 23, 2013. The winners must claim
their prize within 14 working days of being notified. If the prize is unclaimed after this time, it
will lapse and ACRB reserves the right to offer the unclaimed prize to a substitute winner
selected in accordance with these rules.
If you have questions about the contest, please contact Myola Smith at 404-865-8622 or at
mmsmith@atlantaga.gov.
Entry Form for ACRB Art Contest
(Grades 6 – 8)
* Before you complete this entry form, please be sure to read the official contest rules posted at
www.acrbgov.org.
Please complete this form and submit it with your essay. The essay must arrive at Atlanta Citizen
Review Board (ACRB) office on or before 5:00 p.m., September 16, 2013.
Privacy policy note: This information will not be shared with any other party or shared for any
other reason. Send questions to mmsmith@atlantaga.gov.
(Please print neatly or type)
Student's name:
______________________________________________________________________________________
Student's age:
______________________________________________________________________________________
Child's grade:
______________________________________________________________________________________
Parent/guardian's name:
______________________________________________________________________________________
Street address:
______________________________________________________________________________________
City: _________________________________________________________________________________
State: ________________________________________________________________________________
Zip code:
______________________________________________________________________________________
Phone number:
______________________________________________________________________________________
Parent/guardian's e-mail address:
______________________________________________________________________________________
I have read, understand, agree, and abide by the Official Rules of the Atlanta Citizen Review
Board (ACRB) Middle School Essay Contest. Parent/guardian must sign for all entrants under 18
years of age.
Further, I certify that this essay is an original writing, created by the student.
______________________________________________________________________________________
Student's signature and date
______________________________________________________________________________________
Parent/guardian's signature and date
Entries in the Atlanta Citizen Review Board (ACRB) Essay Contest become the sole property of ACRB.
Entrants assign and transfer all rights, including all copyrights, to ACRB. Entries may be used, reproduced,
distributed, modified, or displayed by ACRB, for any purpose that benefits or is otherwise useful to ACRB.
Entrants also assign any claims that have accrued or may accrue in the rights of the essay, whether known
or unknown.