Jackson’s community outreach program supports the FBI’s investigative priorities by hosting educational and awareness programs that build better relationships between the FBI and the American people. Our mission is to reach out to the citizens of Mississippi and to partner with the communities we protect through a broad range of activities.

Our programs and initiatives include:

FBI Citizens Academy

The Citizens Academy offers business, civic, religious, and community leaders in Mississippi an opportunity to learn about the FBI’s people, mission, activities, and resources. Since hosting the first Jackson Division Citizens Academy in 2005, this program has met with substantial success and continues to grow. Sessions are hosted in Jackson and in other cities throughout Mississippi.

Candidates for the FBI Citizens Academy must:

• Be a minimum 21 years of age;
• Have no prior felony convictions;
• Undergo a background investigation; and
• Live within Jackson’s territory.

If you are interested in attending the Jackson Division Citizens Academy, please contact the community outreach program at (601) 948-5000.

Mississippi Citizens Academy Alumni Association

The Mississippi Citizens Academy Alumni Association consists of academy graduates. Charles Odom is the current president, and a seven-member board of directors has been established.

Jackson Community Advisory Council

The Jackson Community Advisory Council consists of community leaders who help the FBI achieve greater community understanding and build partnerships. The council meets quarterly and works to:

• Bridge the gap between cultures and communities as they relate to the FBI;
• Serve as a resource to our multi-cultural communities;
• Provide a safe haven to discuss issues with other cultures and law enforcement partners; and
• Develop a network of resources for members across cultural barriers.

We hosted the most recent Jackson Community Advisory Council meeting in February 2010.

Director’s Community Leadership Award (DCLA)

Since 1990, the FBI has publicly recognized the achievements of individuals and organizations making extraordinary contributions to education, crime, and violence prevention in their communities. Each field office selects one individual or organization per year.

Our 2012 DCLA recipient is Former Mississippi Governor William F. Winter. Governor Winter was nominated for the Jackson Field Office FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award for 2012 based on his outstanding contributions in the areas of civil rights, education, and community service.

Community Relations Executive Seminar Training (CREST)

The CREST initiative reinforces existing relationships and facilitates information exchange between the FBI and the communities we serve, thereby improving the quality of community life. This training provides an overview of the FBI, its jurisdiction, and issues relating to the community.

A few facts about the CREST program:

• A partnering organization requests the training and discussion topics;
• The training is customized to suit the audience;
• The total time commitment is 6-8 hours (one day or over a three week period); and
• The venue is provided by the organization, association, or group.

The CREST curriculum can cover the following topics:

• Counterterrorism;
• Foreign counterintelligence;
• Cyber crime;
• Public corruption;
• Major theft/violent crime;
• White-collar crime;
• Civil rights;
• Recruitment and hiring; and
• Health care fraud.

In May 2009, we conducted a CREST program in Quitman, Mississippi through a partnership with the Clark County NAACP. The topics of discussion were public corruption, violent crime, and civil rights. A separate Youth Forum was conducted during the violent crimes presentation. The public was invited, and the event was well attended.