The FBITo uphold the law through the investigation of violations of federal riminallaw; to protect the U. S.
from foreign intelligence and terrorist activities; toprovide leadership and law enforcement assistance to federal, state, local, andinternational agencies; and to perform these responsibilities in a manner thatis responsive to the needs of the public and is faithful to the constitution ofthe U. S. : this is the mission of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The agency now known as the Federal Bureau of Investigation was foundedin 1908 when the Attorney General appointed an unnamed force of Special Agentsto be the investigative force of the Department of Justice (DOJ). Before thattime, the DOJ had to borrow Agents from the U. S.
Secret Service to investigateviolations of federal criminal laws within its jurisdiction. In 1909, theSpecial Agent Force was renamed the Bureau of Investigation, and after a seriesof name changes, it received its present official name in 1935. During the early period of the FBIs history, its agents investigatedviolations of mainly bankruptcy frauds, antitrust crime, and neutralityviolation. During World War One, the Bureau was given the responsibility ofinvestigating espionage, sabotage, sedition (resistance against lawfulauthority), and draft violations. The passage of the National Motor VehicleTheft Act in 1919 further broadened the Bureau’s jurisdiction.
After the passage of Prohibition in 1920, the gangster era began, bringingabout a whole new type of crime. Criminals engaged in kidnapping and bankrobbery, which were not federal crimes at that time. This changed in 1932 withthe passage of a federal kidnapping statute. In 1934, many other federalcriminal statutes were passed, and Congress gave Special Agents the authority tomake arrests and to carry firearms. The FBIs size and jurisdiction during the second World War increasedgreatly and included intelligence matters in South America.
With the end of thatwar, and the arrival of the Atomic Age, the FBI began conducting backgroundsecurity investigations for the White House and other government agencies, aswell as probes into internal security matters for the executive branch of thegovernment. In the 1960s, civil rights and organized crime became major concerns of theFBI, and counterterrorism, drugs, financial crime, and violent crimes in the1970s. These are still the major concerns of the FBI, only now it is to agreater extent. . With all of this responsibility, it is logical to say that the FBI is afield-oriented organization. They have nine divisions and four offices at FBIHeadquarters in Washington, D.
C. These divisions and offices provide directionand support services to 56 field offices and approximately 10,100 Special Agentsand 13,700 other employees. Each FBI field office is overseen by a SpecialAgent in Charge, except for those located in New York City and Washington, D. C. Due to their large size, those offices are each managed by an Assistant Directorin Charge. FBI field offices conduct their official business both directly from theirheadquarters and through approximately 400 satellite offices, known as residentagencies.
The FBI also operates specialized field installations: two RegionalComputer Support Centers; one in Pocatello, Idaho, and one in Fort Monmouth, NewJersey — and two Information technology Centers (ITCs); one at Butte, Montana,and one at Savannah, Georgia. The ITCs provide information services to supportfield investigative and administrative operations. Because they do have so much responsibility, their investigative authorityis the broadest of all federal law enforcement agencies. The FBI also stresseslong term, complex investigation, emphasize close relations and informationsharing with other federal, state, local, and foreign law enforcement andintelligence agencies. A significant number of FBI investigations are conductedwith other law enforcement agencies or as part of joint task forces.
As part of this process, the FBI has divided its investigations into thefollowing programs:Applicant ProgramDepartment of Energy and Nuclear RegulatoryCommission ApplicantsDepartment of justice CandidatesFBI Special Agents and Support Applicantsand othersCivil Rights ProgramCivil Rights Act of 1964Discrimination in HousingEqual Credit Opportunity ActCounterterrorism ProgramHostage takingSabotageAttempted of Actual Bombingsand othersFinancial Crime ProgramBank Fraud and EmbezzlementEnvironmental CrimesFraud Against the Governmentand othersForeign Counterintelligence ProgramsEspionageForeign Counterintelligence MattersOrganized Crime/Drug ProgramDrug MattersMoney LaunderingOrganized Crime/Drug Enforcement Task Force Mattersand othersViolent Crimes and Major Offenders ProgramTheft of Government PropertyCrime Aboard AircraftKidnapping – Extortionand othersThese programs cover most everything that the FBI investigates, and someindividual cases in a program often receives extensive investigative attentionbecause of their size, potential impact, or sensitivity. Because FBI Special Agents are responsible for handling so manydifferent things, they have to go through rigorous training in the followingareas: Academics, Firearms, Physical Training/Defense Tactics, and PracticalExercises. Within these four major areas are components like interviewingtechniques, communications, computer skills, and drug investigations. Altogether there are 15 components in the four areas I listed previously.
Theyreceive all of this training at the FBI academy in Quantico, Virginia and mustcomplete 645 hours (15 weeks) of instruction before they graduate. The training in the academy is difficult, but those who have made itthere have already passed the first test. To qualify for training as an FBIAgent, you must be:1. a U. S.
citizen2. between the ages of 23 and 37 when entering on duty;3. hold a bachelors degree obtained in an accredited four-year resident program at a college or university; and4. have three years full-time work experience, or fluency in a language for which the Bureau has a need for. After graduation from the FBI Academy, a new Special Agent is assignedto an FBI field office.
This assignment is determined by the individualsspecial skills and the needs of the bureau. As part of their duties, SpecialAgents are required to relocate during their careers. Special Agents enterservice in Grade GS 10 on the federal governments General Schedule pay scale andcan advance to Grade 13 in field assignment. In our society today, one of the most important things to us is oursafety. Organizations like the FBI help protect us and investigate crimes tohelp prevent future ones. Their motto is Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity, andI think that each one of those words is justified when it comes to describingthe Federal Bureau of Investigation.
When the duties of the FBI are stated inthe mission it says to perform these duties in a manner that is responsive tothe needs of the public and is faithful to the Constitution of the United States. . Law
