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