For information please contact Community Outreach Program staff @ 972-559-5000

CITIZEN'S ACADEMY

Mission Statement

The FBI Citizens' Academy offers business, civic, religious, and community leaders within the Dallas Division the opportunity to learn about the mission and resources of the FBI. Since the implementation of the Dallas Division Citizens' Academy in September of 2000, this program has met with substantial success and continues to grow in interest and impact.

The Citizens' Academy is conducted once a year and consists of nine sessions over an eight-week period. Classroom sessions are conducted in the local office of the Dallas FBI on consecutive Tuesday evenings from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, and there is one Saturday session. The core curriculum includes an explanation of the organizational structure of the FBI on a national and local level; an overview of the legal basis for the FBI's jurisdiction and issues relating to Congressional oversight, discussion of the FBI's investigative programs; discussion of crisis management principles, and various practical exercises.

Candidate Criteria

Candidates must meet the following criteria:

Have an active interest and involvement in community affairs and current issues,

Live and/or work within the Dallas Division,

Be at least 21 years of age,

Have no prior felony or serious misdemeanor convictions,

Have no prior misdemeanor or felony arrests, and

Consent to a background investigation sufficient to afford an interim security clearance


Additional Community Outreach Initiatives-

CITIZENS' ACADEMY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
The Citizens' Academy Alumni Association is comprised of graduates of all of the Dallas Citizens' Academy classes since inception in 2000. The Dallas Citizens' Academy Alumni Association is an invaluable asset to the Dallas FBI Community Outreach Program, acting as an ambassador to the public for the Dallas FBI and assisting with all current Citizens' Academy classes and activities such as the annual Teen Citizens' Academy. The Alumni Association meets quarterly at the Dallas FBI office and generally features a guest lecturer.

TEEN CITIZENS' ACADEMY
The Dallas FBI Teen Citizens' Academy is a one day event held at the Dallas FBI Field Office. Teens between the ages of 13-19 who have not yet graduated high school and are nominated by FBI employees, Citizens' Academy Alumni and self nomination are eligible to attend the Teen Citizens' Academy. Space is limited for enrollment and there are usually an overwhelming number of applications. The Teen Citizens' Academy is held in August. Dallas FBI personnel provide presentations including: Counter Terrorism, Legal Issues, Cyber Crime, SWAT Team equipment display, Applicant Recruiting Matters, Evidence Response Team, Hazardous materials and bombing matters, a Violent Crime case study, a Polygraph and Crisis Negotiation Workshop, and Drug Matters. The day concludes with a tour of the Dallas FBI Office. Participants are treated to a barbeque lunch hosted by the Dallas Citizens' Academy Alumni Association.

DIRECTOR's COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AWARD
The Director's Community Leadership Award is awarded annually. Each of the FBI's 56 field divisions may nominate an individual for the Director's Community Leadership Award. The award is based on an individual's ability to consistently motivate and inspire others to "give back" to the community through community service and personal involvement. The Dallas Division's recipient of the 2006 Director's Community Leadership Award is Clarice Tinsley.

ADOPT-A-SCHOOL PROGRAM
The Adopt-A-School Program puts Dallas FBI Special Agents and professional support personnel into local schools to mentor "at-risk" or disadvantaged children. The FBI personnel create programs to help the children learn how to improve academically and become good citizens. Over the course of several weeks, FBI personnel provide an overview of various FBI investigative programs for the children in an effort to demonstrate how to resist bad behavior and judgement that could lead to crime, drug use, gang participation and violence.