Community Outreach Program - Working for A Safer Tomorrow

Citizens' Academy
The FBI's Community Partnership Program - Citizens' Academy (CA) was initiated in September 1998. The program is designed to promote a partnership between the FBI and the community it serves. The Buffalo Division believes that these relationships will result in a better understanding of the mission, goals, and investigative responsibilities of the FBI.

The CA program consists of eight sessions taught over two months to local business and community leaders. The sessions include the presentation of investigative programs in the areas of Violent Crimes/Major Offenders, Organized Crime/Drugs, Foreign Counterintelligence, Terrorism, and White Collar Crime. Additional information is provided in the areas of behavioral profiling, legal and media relations, the use of deadly force, evidence collection, and critical incident response.

FBI Youth Academy
As of March 2002, the FBI's Community Outreach Program (COP) has initiated a one day FBI Youth Academy. This program will give youth in the community the opportunity to learn about the mission of the FBI and career opportunities available. Hopefully, it will also enhance student academic learning.

Thirty students with various academic backgrounds are selected for the Academy. Three students from ten randomly selected high schools in Western New York make up the thirty students. Participants will be given an overview of the investigative programs including a session on behavioral profiling. The selection of high schools will be rotated to allow a broad variety of schools an opportunity to participate.

Community Involvement
The COP is also actively engaged in the recruitment and hiring efforts of the FBI by providing presentations to community groups, professional and religious organizations, schools, and the media. The COP also serves as a catalyst with other law enforcement agencies, community groups, and school systems to provide crime, drug, and gang lectures, as well as programs on cultural diversity and hate crimes. Additionally, the COP is a member of the Crime Prevention Association of Western New York, Inc., the Sister-to-Sister Summit, and the Buffalo Weed and Seed Program.