U.S. Attorney’s Office Launches Inaugural Federal Prosecutor Leadership Academy for Miami-Dade High School Students (DOJ)

MIAMI - The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida recently hosted its inaugural Federal Prosecutor Leadership Academy, a two-day program designed to introduce high school students to the mission and work of the Department of Justice and inspire the next generation of public servants.

The inaugural class included 33 students representing 10 high schools across Miami-Dade County. Throughout the program, students engaged directly with federal prosecutors, law enforcement agents, and members of the judiciary to gain a comprehensive understanding of the federal criminal justice system.

"This program is about access and mentorship at an early stage," said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. "For many of these students, this was their first real interaction with federal prosecutors, law enforcement agents, and judges. That kind of exposure matters. When young people can engage directly with professionals in public service, it turns something distant into something possible. Early access like this can shape the trajectory of a student's life and give them a clearer understanding of how they can one day serve. As a career prosecutor and former state trial judge, I've seen in my own development how mentorship opens doors and helps build the next generation of public servants."

Over the course of two days, students participated in a series of interactive panels and presentations led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys and federal law enforcement partners, including representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Secret Service, and the City of Doral Police Department.

Programming included:

• An introduction to the Department of Justice and the structure of the U.S. Attorney's Office

• Roundtable discussions with Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Civil Division, General Crimes Section, Violent Crime and Special Victims Section, and Economic Crimes Section

• A panel on pathways to becoming a federal prosecutor

• A presentation on the "nuts and bolts" of a criminal investigation

• A law enforcement panel highlighting interagency collaboration in federal cases

• A guided office tour and a visit with a U.S. Magistrate Judge

Building on the success of the inaugural program, the U.S. Attorney's Office will host a second session of the Federal Prosecutor Leadership Academy on April 6-7, which will welcome students from private high schools across Miami-Dade County.

The Federal Prosecutor Leadership Academy is part of the U.S. Attorney's Office's broader community outreach efforts aimed at strengthening public trust and building a pipeline of diverse future leaders in the justice system.

The U.S. Attorney's Office looks forward to continuing the program in the years ahead.

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