SACRAMENTO—Are you a leader in your community who has wondered what the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigates in your community, what you should be aware of, and how you can help make your community safer? If so, the FBI Sacramento Field Office’s Citizens Academy may have the perfect opportunity for you.

The FBI Citizens Academy, hosted by the FBI Sacramento Field Office, offers a unique experience for civil, business, religious, and community leaders residing or working within the 34-county area the field office serves. The Spring 2022 FBI Citizens Academy class will be the first to be hosted in multiple locations including Bakersfield, Chico, Fresno, Ripon, and Roseville, enabling more people the opportunity to participate.

“With more than 87,000 square miles to cover, our territory is vast. Prior classes were hosted in a single location in Fresno or Roseville, limiting our ability to connect with many of the communities we serve,” said Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan of the FBI Sacramento Field Office. “This new concept enables us to open the FBI Citizens Academy experience to more civic, business, and community leaders from our region. This new, hybrid experience will directly connect with many communities while offering both a regional and location-specific perspective regarding the FBI’s role in federal law enforcement.”

Classes offer in-depth exploration of the FBI’s investigative priorities including terrorism, counterintelligence, civil rights, cybercrime, public corruption, and violent crime. The scheduled sessions—hosted one evening a week for eight weeks—are complemented by an optional day of in-person demonstrations by specialty teams and a firing range experience offering gun safety and an appreciation for the weapons every agent must have demonstrated proficiency with.

FBI Citizens Academy graduates have a better understanding about how the FBI Sacramento Field Office fulfills its mission within the region and how it partners with law enforcement and the community to prevent violence and investigate crime. All graduates are encouraged to join the local FBI Citizens Academy Alumni Association Chapter to continue their education and participate in crime prevention and youth education efforts that benefit their communities.

To nominate yourself or someone else to attend the Spring FBI Citizens Academy Class and learn more about the program, visit https://forms.fbi.gov/fbi-citizens-academy-nomination-form-sacramento/view. Applications must be submitted by February 11, 2022. Candidates must be a recognized leader in their respective communities, live within the FBI Sacramento Field Offices region, be at least 21 years old, consent to a limited background check, and agree to attend all scheduled sessions with no more than one excused absence.