Essay/Term paper: The fbi

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Politics

The FBI

To uphold the law through the investigation of violations of federal riminal
law; to protect the U.S. from foreign intelligence and terrorist activities; to
provide leadership and law enforcement assistance to federal, state, local, and
international agencies; and to perform these responsibilities in a manner that
is responsive to the needs of the public and is faithful to the constitution of
the U.S.: this is the mission of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The agency now known as the Federal Bureau of Investigation was founded
in 1908 when the Attorney General appointed an unnamed force of Special Agents
to be the investigative force of the Department of Justice (DOJ). Before that
time, the DOJ had to borrow Agents from the U.S. Secret Service to investigate
violations of federal criminal laws within its jurisdiction. In 1909, the
Special Agent Force was renamed the Bureau of Investigation, and after a series
of name changes, it received its present official name in 1935.

During the early period of the FBIs history, its agents investigated
violations of mainly bankruptcy frauds, antitrust crime, and neutrality
violation. During World War One, the Bureau was given the responsibility of
investigating espionage, sabotage, sedition (resistance against lawful
authority), and draft violations. The passage of the National Motor Vehicle
Theft Act in 1919 further broadened the Bureau's jurisdiction.

After the passage of Prohibition in 1920, the gangster era began, bringing
about a whole new type of crime. Criminals engaged in kidnapping and bank
robbery, which were not federal crimes at that time. This changed in 1932 with
the passage of a federal kidnapping statute. In 1934, many other federal
criminal statutes were passed, and Congress gave Special Agents the authority to
make arrests and to carry firearms.

The FBIs size and jurisdiction during the second World War increased
greatly and included intelligence matters in South America. With the end of that
war, and the arrival of the Atomic Age, the FBI began conducting background
security investigations for the White House and other government agencies, as
well as probes into internal security matters for the executive branch of the
government.

In the 1960s, civil rights and organized crime became major concerns of the
FBI, and counterterrorism, drugs, financial crime, and violent crimes in the
1970s. These are still the major concerns of the FBI, only now it is to a
greater extent..

With all of this responsibility, it is logical to say that the FBI is a
field-oriented organization. They have nine divisions and four offices at FBI
Headquarters in Washington, D.C. These divisions and offices provide direction
and support services to 56 field offices and approximately 10,100 Special Agents
and 13,700 other employees. Each FBI field office is overseen by a Special
Agent 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 Director
in Charge.

FBI field offices conduct their official business both directly from their
headquarters and through approximately 400 satellite offices, known as resident
agencies. The FBI also operates specialized field installations: two Regional
Computer Support Centers; one in Pocatello, Idaho, and one in Fort Monmouth, New
Jersey -- and two Information technology Centers (ITCs); one at Butte, Montana,
and one at Savannah, Georgia. The ITCs provide information services to support
field investigative and administrative operations.

Because they do have so much responsibility, their investigative authority
is the broadest of all federal law enforcement agencies. The FBI also stresses
long term, complex investigation, emphasize close relations and information
sharing with other federal, state, local, and foreign law enforcement and
intelligence agencies. A significant number of FBI investigations are conducted
with other law enforcement agencies or as part of joint task forces.

As part of this process, the FBI has divided its investigations into the
following programs:

Applicant Program
Department of Energy and Nuclear Regulatory
Commission Applicants
Department of justice Candidates
FBI Special Agents and Support Applicants
and others

Civil Rights Program

Civil Rights Act of 1964
Discrimination in Housing
Equal Credit Opportunity Act

Counterterrorism Program

Hostage taking
Sabotage
Attempted of Actual Bombings
and others

Financial Crime Program

Bank Fraud and Embezzlement
Environmental Crimes
Fraud Against the Government
and others

Foreign Counterintelligence Programs

Espionage
Foreign Counterintelligence Matters

Organized Crime/Drug Program

Drug Matters
Money Laundering
Organized Crime/Drug Enforcement Task Force Matters
and others

Violent Crimes and Major Offenders Program

Theft of Government Property
Crime Aboard Aircraft
Kidnapping - Extortion
and others

These programs cover most everything that the FBI investigates, and some
individual cases in a program often receives extensive investigative attention
because of their size, potential impact, or sensitivity.

Because FBI Special Agents are responsible for handling so many
different things, they have to go through rigorous training in the following
areas: Academics, Firearms, Physical Training/Defense Tactics, and Practical
Exercises. Within these four major areas are components like interviewing
techniques, communications, computer skills, and drug investigations.
Altogether there are 15 components in the four areas I listed previously. They
receive all of this training at the FBI academy in Quantico, Virginia and must
complete 645 hours (15 weeks) of instruction before they graduate.

The training in the academy is difficult, but those who have made it
there have already passed the first test. To qualify for training as an FBI
Agent, you must be:

1. a U.S. citizen
2. 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; and
4. 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 assigned
to an FBI field office. This assignment is determined by the individuals
special skills and the needs of the bureau. As part of their duties, Special
Agents are required to relocate during their careers. Special Agents enter
service in Grade GS 10 on the federal governments General Schedule pay scale and
can advance to Grade 13 in field assignment.

In our society today, one of the most important things to us is our
safety. Organizations like the FBI help protect us and investigate crimes to
help prevent future ones. Their motto is Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity, and
I think that each one of those words is justified when it comes to describing
the Federal Bureau of Investigation. When the duties of the FBI are stated in
the mission it says to perform these duties in a manner that is responsive to
the needs of the public and is faithful to the Constitution of the United States.
.