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.