In Search of an FBI Brain to Pick

[Kait Nolan]

Okay, so I write romantic suspense. I am, as yet, unpublished, so I have absolutely no credentials to throw around on that front when I need to ask procedural questions of various professionals involved in the solving of crime. I've had varying levels of success with polite email queries for varying projects. Let's face it...in this line of work we need to ask all sorts of questions that "normal" people think are insane. In any event, I have had absolutely zero luck tracking down an FBI agent to answer procedural questions. My great uncle used to be SAC of the Birmingham field office. He'd have been a fabulous brain to pick, but sadly he died several years back, so that's not an option. To a point I have made up for it by devouring everything I can get my hands on by John Douglas and assorted other authors but books can only take me so far. I've just recently discovered, due to a comment in passing on a recent Romancing the Blog post by Allison Brennan, that the entire premise of my current book won't work. As I'm 53k in, that's just not cool! I think I can still make it work if I can find some kind agent who would be willing to allow me to pick their brain.

The general situation I'm trying to work out at this point is this: I have a homicide committed in a fictional Mississippi town (I'm from MS, and I pulled a page out of Faulkner's book and created my own county). The local Sheriff wants a consult from the profilers at Quantico. My heroine has been based in the Richmond, VA field office up to this point but winds up catching this case as her first as a profiler because she's originally from the area. There's a personal connection for her with this case, and she really probably shouldn't be on it, but that's not the problematic part, as I think I can work around it. a) It occurs to me that I don't think profilers have partners; b) I have no idea how long she'd wind up staying (as this turns into a string of homicides); c) the way I have it set up now, this is sort of a trial run case for her--a situation where, if she does well, she earns her slot in the behavioral analysis unit (which is probably NOT how things are done)--but she's still technically an agent out of the Richmond office, so there's an obvious jurisdictional problem there because the proper jurisdiction would be Jackson. Except I don't know if they have any of their own profilers there as I have no idea whether all the Bureau's profilers are based at Quantico or if they are spread out in other places. I think I've made a big mishmosh of things because I simply don't know how things are done.

So how bout it? Any active or retired agents up for helping me out?

[Deirdre]

The FBI is federal. So although there are local offices they usually hold only one or two people depending on the size of the town/area they are in. Elmira, has one guy. If they are having a serious problem they are able to call from anywhere in the states, for the person best qualified to help with that situation.

I'm not in the FBI but I have a friend who is close to them, and an uncle I haven't spoken to in a while that has retired.

I'm sure the website would offer some information, as well as how to contact their publicity person, and you could probably contact your local office. Published writer or not, generally people are very helpful with questions esp. if you are trying to get the information correct. They just don't want to talk about current cases, and are a little leary of people trying to trick them.

Deirdre

[Joyce Tremel]

Have you tried the FBI website? They have all kinds of info on there. Also, call your closest FBI office. All offices have a community liason person who should be able to help you with your questions. If all else fails, call Quantico. They probably have someone there who could point you in the right direction.

[Kait Nolan]

Yes, I've been all over the FBI website (and I'm pouting because their Citizen's Academy isn't near where I live in my state). I tried emailing our local offices, but I suppose a phone call might get more of a response. Thanks for your help!

[Patrick Balester]

Kathleen,

This may be a simple case of logistics. Your heroine was originally from the area, right? So, arrange to have her return home for a vacation visit to the area to see family. The sheriff is a friend of the family, (not an unreasonable premise). He happens to mention the homicide. The heroine expalins what she does, and the sherriff requests her assistance, "from one colleague to another". How can she refuse? Remember the movie "In the Heat of the Night?" (A bit different, but a Philadelphia homicide expert was drawn into a local crime in Mississippi).

Also, I don't think a field office in Mississippi is likely to have their own profiler. Not much need for them in that area.

As a last resort, you might also consider contacting the Birmigham field office and try to track down someone who worked with your great uncle. The mention of his name might open some doors for you.

And don't assume your premise is unworkable because of ONE comment on someone's blog!

Good luck.

Pat

[Kait Nolan]

Oh the heroine definitely knows the Sheriff. He's the ex with whom she has a thick sticky past, a guy whom she's done everything she can the last ten years to avoid--but she's not supposed to realize who it is until she's already assigned to the case. :D Yeah I seriously doubt we have our own profiler down here--the sorts of homicide that are common here are typically domestic violence, drug related, or gang related. As it turns out my premise may not be completely unworkable as Allison pointed out that her query was very specifically related to fugitive pursuit (I overlooked that at 6:30 in the morning before caffeine), but I'd still like to track down someone for some fact checking.

[Deirdre]

Contact your local office, he probably knows someone close by who is retired who can help with fact verification, or maybe will be willing to do it him/her self depending on how busy they are.

Don't forget drug trafficking is federal, as soon as they cross the state lines.

I think your story has a workable premise, and I am very anxious to hear (read) more.

Have a lovely day.

Deirdre

[Angie]

Weirdly enough, there's a former FBI agent coming to speak to a mystery book group tomorrow night. I'll see if she's up for answering any questions - send me a message with any specifics. Also, my parents are friends with 2 FBI folks in AL (a couple - one still active, the other retired). I can see if they'd be willing to talk to you if you want.

[Doug M. Cummings]

I don't see any indication of whether you have had your questions answered so I'll offer this:
Every FBI field office including the one in Jackson) has a public information officer or community outreach co-ordinator who can answer general questions about the Bureau. If you Google "FBI public information" and you'll right away come up with a couple of names of PIOs in the New York office with their phone numbers.
In addition, FBI Headquarters in DC has a large public information team. A phone call is your best bet.
You may have to spend some time on the phone tracking them down but I'm sure you'll find someone willing to help.