Federal Bureau of Investigation

FBI Citizens' A
Academy
eadem v .
Background

In 1993,
1993, the Phoenix Division began
began a Citizens'
Citizens' Academy
Academytotodevelop
developand/
and/or
or enhance the
relationship between the FBI and the citizens of Phoenix.
Phoenix. They
They solicited
solicited the input of
of various
community leaders
leaders and visited
visited local
local police agencies to discuss
agencies to discuss the
the ongoing program.

Academy Goals and Objectives

Academy Goals Obiectives

•• To be
be aa catalyst
catalyst for
for improving
improving the
the quality
quality of
of life within the individual
individual communities through
law enforcement related
related and
and awareness
awareness programs.

•• To project
project aa positive
positive image
image of
of the
the FBI
FBI in
in the
the communities
communities we
we serve,
serve, and
and newly
newly established
partnerships andand initiatives
initiatives within these venues.

•• To improve
improve our
our understanding
understandingofofthe
theindividual
individual community
community by
by establishing
establishing the exchange of
information between
between the
the FBI
FBI and the
the community.
community.

•• To identify
identify crime affec~g specific communities
crime problems affecting communities not currently being addressed,
and thereafter,
thereafter, develop
develop proactive
proactive initiatives
initiatives to address crime problems identified.

Academv
Academy Purpose

The Citizens'
Citizens' Academy
Academy is is aa stimulating
stimulating program
program that
that gives
gives business,
business, religious,
religious, civic,
civic, and
community leaders an inside
inside look
look at at the
the FBI.
FBI. During
During the
the Academy,
Academy, students
students participate
participate in
in firearms
firearms
demonstrations
demonstrations and
and practical
practical problems
problems involving
involving the
the collection
collection and preservation of of physical
physical
evidence; are introduced to the structure
evidence; are structure andand operation
operation ofofanan FBI
FBI field
field office
office and
and resident
resident agency;
agency;
are provided an
an overview
overview ofof the
the legal
legal basis for the FBI's jurisdiction
jurisdiction and issues relating to
congressional oversight; and learn the services the FBI
services the FBI provides
provides to local
local and state law
law enforcement
agencies.
agenCIes.

The
The six
sixto
toeight
eightweek
weekAcademy
Academy is isdesigned
designedtotogive
givecitizens
citizens anan overview
overview of
of FBI and
Department of Justice
Justicepolicies
policiesand procedures.ItItisisrecommended
andprocedures. recommendedthat thataa Division
Division operate
operate an
Academy
Academy with with aa minimum
minimumtotal totalofof1818hours.
hours.The Thecurriculum
curriculumandandteaching
teachingmethods
methodsare are similar
similar to
the traditional
traditional methods
methods used
used at
at the
the FBI
FBI Academy,
Academy, but but the
the weekly
weekly sessions are not designed to make
sessions are
the participantsan
the participants anFBI
FBISpecial
Special Agent.
Agent. TheTheAcademy
Academyclasses
classesare
aretaught
taughtby byFBI
FBIstaff,
staff,and/
and/or
or
others deemed
deemed appropriate
appropriateby bythethedivision's
division'sSpecial
SpecialAgent
Agentin inCharge
Charge(SAC).
(SAC). ItItisisthe
the goal
goal of
the FBI Citizens' Academy to foster a greater understanding of the role of Federal law enforcement
in the community through
through frank
frank discussion
discussion and education.

ACLURM000534
Academy
Academy Schedule

It is recommended
r.ecommendedthatthataadivision
division choose
choose to to operate
operate at least one Academy
Academy a year.
year. The
length of
length ofeach
each session
session is
is six
six to
to eight
eight weeks;
weeks; this
tlu's can
can include one Saturday segment. Classes
Classes
meet in the
meet the evenings
evenings atat the
the FBI
FBIfacility,
facility, school, university,
university, or
or an
anoffSite
offsitebuilding.
building. Upon
completion of
completion ofthe
the Academy,
Academy, aa graduation
graduation ceremony
ceremony may may bebe held
held in
in honor
honor of
ofthe
the graduates.
The coordination of of the Academy should be assigned to the Community
Academy should Outreach Specialist
Community Outreach Speciah'st
(COS) or Coordinator.

Academy Curriculum
Academy Curriculum

The curriculum is design to educate the

the students
students about
about the
the mission,
mission, goals,
goals, history and inner
workings
workings of the FBI. The
Thefollowing
followingtopics
topics should
shouldbe
beincluded
included in
in the
theCitizens'
Citizens' Academy
Academy curriculum:
curriculum:

- Terrorism
-- Foreign Counterintelligence
- Cyber Crime
- Public Corruption
-- Major Thefts/Violent
Thefts/Violent Crimes
Crimes
- Field Intelligence Group
- White Collar Crime Program
-- InfraGard
- Civil Rights
-- Recruitment
-- Citizens' Academy Alumni Foundation

The following
following are additional recommendations which may
may be
be incorporated in order to establish
establish a
successful program:

-- SWAT Demonstration
- Evidence Response Team Demonstration
-- Mock Polygraph Examination
- Defensive Tactics
-- Range Day

Entrance Requirements

Potential candidates for

for the
the Citizens'
Citizens'Academy
Academy may
may include
include business,
business, civic,
civic, religious,
religious, or community
leaders, who meet the
the following
following criteria:
criteria:

•• Must be at
at least
least 18
18 years of
of age
age
•• Must have no prior
prior felony
felony convictions
•• Must live or work within the jurisdiction
jurisdiction of
of the local
local FBI field
field office; and
•• Must pass aa security check assessment

ACLURM000535
 Any of the above requirements
requirements can
can be
be waived
waived upon review
review and approval of the SAC.

Selecdon Procedure
Selection

FBI Citizens' Academy students students are

are selected
selected by by the SAC, along with
SAC, along with the
the assistance
from
from the COS
COS through a nomination process. process. Alumni
Alumni Foundations are prohibited from
being
being part
partofofthe
theselection
selectionprocess.
process.If selected, thethestudents
If selected, studentsare
arenotified
notifiedbybyletter
letteralong
along with
with an
application to ascertain their interest and
and are
are requested
requested to to submit
submit the
the appropriate
appropriate documents to the
COS. Upon
Uponcompletion
completionofofthe thesecurity
securitycheck
checkassessment
assessment andand approval
approval for
for an
an interim
interim security
security
clearance, the student
clearance, the student isisofficially
officiallynotified
notifiedofofselection.
selection. Enrollmentisisa aminimum
Enrollment minimumof of2020students,
students,
but not to
to exceed 5050 students per session.

Academv
Academy Guidelines

Contained in the
the Coordinator's
Coordinator's Manual
Manual are
are the
the Federal
Federal rules
rules and regulations
regulations relative
relative
to procurement matters;
matters; use
use of
of the
the FBI
FBI name,
name, seal,
seal, and
and initials;
initials; and
and other
other issues
issues which
which will
will
impact the Academy's development. Particular attention should be paid to the portions
entitled, "COP Funds," "Funds
"Funds Restrictions,"
Restrictions," "Fund
"Fund Raising,"
Raising," and "Leave-Behind Items."
A newly
newly appointed COS is encouraged to review the manual and seekseek guidance
guidance from
from FBIHQ CRU.

A cadem v Resources
Academy

Divisions implementing the Academy are are encouraged

encouraged to
to use
use all
all available
availableFBI
FBIresources.
resources. For
example,Ie the primary th~
rima source for information is on the I lo?
b2
I Another source of infonnation
information is on the
L,-------------------....
11 ----~ an aged by
'managed by the
the Online Print
Online Print
b7E

Unit. ItItisIS also

also recommended
recommended that
that the
the COS
COS keep
keep in
in contact with one another to share thoughts and
ideas.

Since the FBI has limited

limited funds
funds to
to operate anan FBI
FBI Citizens'
Citizens' Academy,
Academy, each Division
Division
wishing to establish
establish an
an Academy
Academy must must do
do so
so with
with otherwise available monies.
Unfortunately, paying for such programs with private-sectorprivate-sector funding
funding isis prohibited since the
FBI may not augment
augment itsits appropriations
appropriations from from outside sources
sources without specific statutory
authority.
authority. This
This doesn't
doesn'tmean
meanthat thatthetheentire
entireexpense
expenseof ofoperating
operating aa Citizens'
Citizens' Academy
Academy
course is borne by the FBI. On Onthe thecontrary,
contrary, while
while the
the FBI
FBI does
does not
not charge
charge any
any fee
fee or
"tuition"
"tuition" for
for the
the program,
program, itit isis responsible
responsible forfor covering
covering certain individual expenses
associated with participation. These Thesecosts
costsmay
mayvary
vary from
from Division to Division depending
depending
on the nature andand content
content of of the
the course
course that
that the
the Division
Division sponsors.
For example, a firearms
fireanns session is often included as part of an Academy Program.
One SAC may decide
SAC may decide to
to not
not only
only useuse Bureau
Bureau weapons
weapons during
during the
the sessions, but also to use
Bureau ammunition. Another
AnotherSAC SAC may determine
detennine that each participant
participant will be asked to
supply his or her ownown ammunition.
ammunition. Both Both decisions
decisions are
are legally defensible. However,
legally defensible. However, to
donate funds to the FBI'FBI toto cover
cover the cost of the ammunition or chartering a non
government organization
organization to to raise
raise monies
monies toto buy the ammunition for for the FBI would be
illegal.

ACLURM000536
Academv .
Academy Restrictions

advised the following:

OGC advised following: "With
"With respect
respect to purchasing food and refreshments to be
served to attendees atat the
the FBI
FBI Citizens'
Citizens' Academy,
Academy, appropriated funds funds may
may not be used to paypay the
travel, transportation, or
travel, or subsistence
subsistence expenses
expenses of of private parties at meetings,
meetings, seminars,
seminars, oror such other
gatherings without specific
gatherings specific statutory
statutory authority. Further, there
authority. Further, there is
is a distinction made between the
general authority to sponsor
sponsor aa seminar,
seminar, conference,
conference, or other
other such
such gatherings
gatherings and
and specific
specific authority
to overcome the prohibition on on furnishing
furnishing food and refreshments
refreshments to to attendees. While authorized to
attendees. While
incur expenses in furtherance of of the COP
COP as as such
such aa program is in furtherance of the Bureau's
Bureau's
mission forth, the
mission for the reasons set forth, the FBI
FBI has
has no
no specific
specific statutory authority
authority to pay
pay for
for food and
refreshments toto be
be served
served to to attendees
attendees at
at the
the FBI
FBI Citizens'
Citizens' Academy."
Academy."

suggest that Divisions use representation

OGC suggest representation funds
funds to
to purchase
purchase food
food and refreshments for
OGCadvised,
the attendees. OGC advised,"From"Fromthis
thisgeneral
generalappropriation,
appropriation,each each field
field office
office is
is allotted
funds for
representation funds for the
the purpose
purpose of ofpromoting
promotingliaison
liaison and
and other
otherofficial
official activities
activities that further
of the
the interests of the FBI,
FBI, such
such as as hosting
hosting events
events for
for local
local community
community leaders and serving food and
Therefore,each
refreshments at such events. Therefore, each Division
Division may may seek approval
approval from
from the appropriate
deciding official
official within
within its
its Division
Division to to use
use representation
representation funds
funds to
to pay
pay for
for foods
foods and
and refreshments
refreshments to
the attendees
be served to the attendees at at the
the FBI
fBI Citizens'
Citizens' Academy,
Academy, should such funds funds be
be available."
available."

AcademvAlumni and/or Foundations

Academy Alumni Association and/or

OGC advised that with limited

limited exceptions (such as as undercover operations)
operations) the
the FBI
FBI
no authority
has no authority toto charter
charter or establish
establish non
non governmental
governmental organizations,
organizations, even if if doing so
facilitates
facilitates the
the outreach
outreachprogram.
program. Thus,
Thus, the FBI cannot establish
establish aa FBI
FBI Citizens'
Citizens' Academy
Academy
Foundation to raise money fund Citizens'
money to fund Citizens' Academy
Academy Programs.
Programs. Private
Private Citizens,
Citizens, including
including
Citizens' Academy
Citizens' "graduates"may,
Academy 'graduates" may, however,
however, establish
establish such foundations
foundations onon their
their own.
FBI cannot
The FBI cannot ask
ask for
for donations
donations from
trom these
these entities
entities or
or be
be too
too closely
closely aligned
aligned or involved
involved
However, this
with them. However, thisdoes
doesnot
notpreclude
precludethethe foundations
foundations onon their
their own
own initiative trom
from
voluntarily offering
voluntarily offering donations
donations to
to the
the FBI
FBI to
to be
beprocessed
processed under
underDepartment
Department of Justice gifts
ofJustice gifts
acceptance guidelines. FBI may
guidelines. The FBI may coopetate with such foundations
foundations to the same extent
that it does with other
other similarly situated
situated community
community organizations
organizations but but we cannot give
give them
preferential their management,
preferential treatment, participate in their management, or or direct their
their operations.

Pursuant to to Bureau
Bureau policy
policyrevisions
revisions set
setforth inan
forth in an EC,
Ee, dated
datedJanuary 21,2000,
January 21, 2000, and
subject to limitations set
subject set forth
forth below,
below, the
the name
name "FBI Citizens Academy"
Academy" within the official
name of
name ofaa private CA is legally unobjectionable,
unobjectionable, andand may
may be approved at at the
the discretion
discretion of of
the SAC ofofthe field division.
division. The
The SAC
SAC of
ofeach field division
division should detennine
determine that the CA is
an appropriate
appropriategroup
group to to use
use the
the name
name "FBI Citizens' Academy"
Academy" to ensure that the use of of the
name byby the
the CA
CA is appropriate.
appropriate. The name "FBI "FBI Citizens' Academy"
Academy" may may be used on the
ofthe CA,
letterhead of CA, and in the CA's correspondence.
correspondence. The The CACA shall use a prominent
prominent
"The CA
disclaimer "The CA is a private,
private, nonprofit
nonprofit organization,
organization,and andisisnot
notaapart
partof
ofthe
theFBI".
FBI". This
disclaimer should
should appear on all printprint and
and electronic
electronicmedia.
media. Any
Any use ofofthe name
name or or initials
ofthe FBI
of FBI byby the
the CA
CA may
may notnot mislead
mislead members
members of ofthe
the public
public toto assume
assume that
that the
the CA
CA isis aa part
ofthe FBI. Specifically,
of Specifically, the
the CA
CA must
mustagree
agree not
not to
to use
use its
its relationship to the FBI
FBI to
to advance
advance
any fundraising or lobbying
lobbying efforts.

ACLURM000537
 AdditionaUy, the
Additionally, theFBI
FBImust
mustnotnotyield
yieldcontrol
controlto
toaa foundation
foundation of
ofthe
the process bywhich
process by which
individualsare
individuals are selected
selectedfor
forparticipation
participationin
inthis
thisor
orany
any other
other FBI
FBI Community
Community Outreach
Outreach
Program. Divisions
Program. Divisionsmust
mustselect
selectparticipants
participantsfrom aUsectors
from all sectors of
ofthe
the community,
community, notnotjust
just
from persons
from recommendedby
persons recommended byaaparticular
particularorganization,
organization, such
such asas aa foundation.
foundation. Similarly,
Similarly,
although possible
although possiblesecurity
securityrisks
risksororpotential
potentialembarrassment
embarrassment to to the
the FBI
FBI are not accepted into
accepted into
the Program
the Program or
or are not permitted into FBI
permitted into FBI space,
space, wewe cannot
cannot screen
screen candidates
candidates for
for
foundation membership.
membership.

55

ACLURM000538