View
36
Download
0
Category
Preview:
Citation preview
Diversity and the FBI
JOSEPH B. MEADOWS
FBI Fast Facts
Domestic intelligence and security service
Nation’s prime law enforcement serviceOperates under the jurisdiction of the
Department of JusticeReports to US Attorney General and
Director of National Intelligence
Role of the FBI
Operations of the FBI include:oCounterterrorismoCounterintelligenceo Investigation of over 200 categories of federal crimes
OPEN RACISM IN THE OFFICE
As late as the 1990’s, African American FBI were subject to hostility in the workplace, threats of violence from their peers, and even had family members subject to threats.
The case of Donald Rochon drew national attention to the FBI and the open intolerance amongst the agents.
in 2001, the FBI was found to be systematically discriminating against African Americans in a class action lawsuit
Post 9-11 Cultural Shift
In a speech given to the National Conference of Historically Black
Colleges in 2002, FBI Director Robert Mueller laid out the designs for
a new culturally diverse FBI. The plans for the future FBI were
designed to modernize the agency and to attempt to increase the
number of minorities serving as field agents. As early as 2002, the
FBI was more than aware that it’s staffing was racially lopsided.
Early Attempts to Recruit
The FBI in 2002 began a campaign to recruit minority agents into the agency. To accomplish this the FBI utilized the following:o The NAACPo National Organization of Black Law Enforcemento Annual Black College Spring Break Career Fairo Annual Women of Color Awards Conference
Despite these efforts the FBI failed in its efforts to equalize the agency or minority hiring.
Current Ethnic make up of the FBI
White African American Latino Asian Other0102030405060708090
83
5 7 4 1
FBI Ethnic Break Down
Race
Perc
ent
Current Gender Disparity in the FBI
80
20
Gender
Male Female
Loss of Diversity
2000
2012
2015
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
85.5
86.69
86.12
5.6
4.74
4.5
6.9
7.14
6.81
Chart Title
Latino Black White
FBI Senior Officials
20150
102030405060708090
100
5 2.8
91.2
Senior FBI Officials by Race
African American Latino White
Was Progress Being Made?
By the raw data, it appears that minorities were increasing slowly between 2000 and 2012
Something significant happened (internally or externally) that caused the FBI to suffer a loss of minority agents
Racial animosity in the population as well as anger against police from minorities could be the root cause for this loss
Attitudes in leadership and high ranking officials within th agency could also be a cause
A Justifiably Hostile Population
2012, was what some could argue the beginning of the anti-police movement in America, though it began with a civilian shooting. Tamir Rice Michael Brown Sandra Bland Alton Sterling Eric Garner
These names should never be forgotten as they represent a systematically biased, corrupt, and racist police force in America.
With this atmosphere, it is little wonder that the FBI has difficulty recruiting minorities into the agency.
The Poisoned Well
America’s inner cities are more often than not crime ridden, drug and alcohol dependent, violent areas in which vast numbers of minorities are forced to live due to economic hardship
These areas by there nature make it next to impossible for individuals to receive a quality education or to enter into adulthood without some type of criminal record
For these reasons alone it is easy to understand why there are fewer minorities working for the FBI, seeing as how it requires a college degree and no criminal record to complete an application process
All the recruiting in the world will not change the FBI until something is done about the systemic racism that permeates society at its foundations in America
James Comey
When asked about the lack of diversity in the bureau in 2014, FBI Director James Comey responded:
“Big challenge for the FBI. The FBI is overwhelmingly white and male. . . . And I’ve got nothing against white males: I happen to be one.”
On its face this hardly seems like the comment of a man that is working to diversify the workforce at the FBI.
New Times, New Effort
The new era of cybercrime has led to a renewed effort by the FBI to recruit minorities into the expanded technology fields.
Meetings with the: National Urban League Congressional Black Caucus National Bar Association National Association of Hispanic MBAs
The Assistant Director of Human Resources, James Turgal, said “I’m trying everything I can to get minority candidates in the door.”
Alternate Recruitment Pool
Proponents argue the FBI would be better served recruiting from state and local police forces rather than recent college graduates
These potential agents have displayed a desire to serve the community, the commitment to complete the mission, as well as the wherewithal to become FBI agents
This pool of applicants would seem to be ready made for the FBI, however has is a potential downside, as any officer recruited to the FBI is lost to the community
Private Economy Competition
The FBI requires candidates have a college degree and several years experience (seasoning as they call it)
The average age of new hires is 29 Many positions that are needed to be filed by the FBI are in
highly technical fields (programming, chemistry, forensics). By the time candidates are prepared for the FBI application
process, many have high paying jobs in the public sector Director Comey refers to this hiring barrier are “golden
handcuffs”, meaning potential FBI agents would rather remain at higher paying jobs than serve in the agency
Agents vs. Non-agent (Professional Workforce)
While there is a significant disparity in the FBI workforce for both Agents and non-agents, the professional workforce does have a higher minority population.
Agent Non-Agent0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Chart Title
Minority White
Continuing Programs of Recruitment
The FBI, as well as all federal agencies, continues to actively recruit minorities
Recruiting drives with African American organizations as well as direct recruitment at historically black colleges
Moving away from “cloak and dagger” agents and modernizing into the cyber age requires more highly educated candidates
Leadership at the agency and desire of diversity plays a significant role in policy implementation
Questions?
Would the FBI be better served recruiting law enforcement officers or is there a fear of reduced minority saturation at the municipal level? How much does the local/state/county population play in FBI recruitment of law enforcement officials?
One of the most successful recruitment slogans is “be the change you want”, yet the FBI does not use this type of approach when recruiting. The FBI is a “bedrock” agency within the government and I would have to ask it there is concern over too many agents demanding/requesting change at one time (especially in todays political climate).
Work CitedGerstein, Josh. 2015. New FBI Numbers Show Decline in Black Agent Ranks. Politico. Viewed
09 November, 2016. http://www.politico.com/story/2015/02/fbi-diversity-statistics-115428
Horwitz, Sari. 2015. As U.S. pushes police to diversify, FBI Struggles to Get Minorities in the
Door. Washington Post. View 08 November, 2016. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/as-us-pushes-police-to- diversify- fbi-
struggles-to-get-minorities-in-the-door/2015/03/12/01bd5806-c753-11e4-b2a1- bed1aaea2816_story.html
Lichtblau, Eric. 2001. FBI Settles Black Agents' Discrimination Lawsuit. LA Times. Viewed 08 November, 2016. http://articles.latimes.com/2001/may/01/news/mn-57894
Mueller, Robert S. 2002. National Conference of the National Historically Black Colleges
and Universities Conference Speech. FBI. Viewed 07 November, 2016.
https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/news/speeches/fbi-diversity-employment-in-a-
new-age-of-global-terror
Smith, Wes. 1990. Fbi Agent: Settlement A `Total Victory`. Chicago Tribune. Viewed 10 November,
2016. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1990-08-10/news/9003070215_1_donald-rochon-fbi- agent-chicago-and-omaha
Recommended