Abstract
This project examines the concept of community policing and how it has influenced contemporary law enforcement agencies. While the term community policing has been used often in literature, the concept is somewhat nebulous. The various definitions of community policing that exist are identified and the commonalities between them are discussed. The history of community policing is detailed in order to provide a greater understanding of first, how the term is used in contemporary society, and second, the manner in which outreach programs are created, structured and implemented. A particular focus is given to Citizens Academy Programs and their inception in police departments and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The project culminates in the creation of an instruction manual detailing how to plan and organize an FBI Citizens Academy program.