Library Guides: Criminal Justice on the Web: Investigative Agencies .gov

Federal Investigative Agencies

Federal Investigative Agencies includes overarching agencies like the FBI, and smaller divisions like the Organized Crime and Gang Section.

Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms (ATF) The ATF protects our communities from violent criminals, criminal organizations, the illegal use and trafficking of firearms, the illegal use and storage of explosives, acts of arson and bombings, acts of terrorism, and the illegal diversion of alcohol and tobacco products.
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ATF Responsibilities
* Investigation and prevention of federal offenses involving the unlawful use, manufacture, and possession of firearms and explosives;
* Acts of arson and bombings; and illegal trafficking of alcohol and tobacco products;
* Regulates via licensing the sale, possession, and transportation of firearms, ammunition, and explosives in interstate commerce.
Antitrust Division (ATR) This Division promotes economic competition through enforcing and providing guidance on antitrust laws and principles.
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Program Areas:
* Criminal Enforcement;
* International Programs;
* Merger Enforcement.
Civil Division (CIVIL) Civil Division represents the United States, its departments and agencies, Members of Congress, Cabinet Officers, and other federal employees in any civil or criminal matter within its scope of responsibility.
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Civil Division litigation categories:
* Cases involving national policies;
* Cases that are so massive and span so many years that they would overwhelm the resources and infrastructure of any individual field office;
* Cases filed in national or foreign courts;
* Cases crossing multiple jurisdictions; and
* Cases to remove illegal aliens.
Civil Rights Division (CRT) The Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice works to uphold the civil and constitutional rights of all Americans, particularly some of the most vulnerable members of our society.
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The Division Enforces federal statutes prohibiting discrimination on the basis of:
* Race;
* Color;
* Sex;
* Disability;
* Religion;
* Familial status;
* National origin.
CrimeSolutions.gov The National Institute of Justice’s CrimeSolutions.gov is comprised of two components — a web-based clearinghouse of programs and practices and a process for identifying and rating those programs and practices.
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Processes:
* Rigorous evaluations and meta-analyses of programs/practices;
* Rating programs/practices on the site;
* Looking at evidence outcomes and the direction of the evidence;
* Evidence that results in rated programs and practices is considered to be the strongest evidence;
* Identifying which programs and practices may have some evidence but it is either emerging, inconclusive, or unclear.
Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Enforce the controlled substances laws and regulations of the United States related to the growing, manufacture, or distribution of controlled substances appearing in or destined for illicit traffic in the United States.
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Programs Administered
* Asset Forfeiture
* Aviation
* Cannabis Eradication
* Clandestine Drug Laboratory Cleanup
* Diversion Control/Prescription Drug Abuse
* Drug Prevention/Demand Reduction
* Foreign Cooperative Investigations
* Forensic Sciences
* High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas
* Money Laundering
* Office of the Administrative Law Judges
* Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force
* State & Local Task Forces
* Southwest Border Initiative
* Victim-Witness Assistance Program
* Asset Forfeiture
* Aviation
* Cannabis Eradication
* Clandestine Drug Laboratory Cleanup
* Diversion Control/Prescription Drug Abuse
* Drug Prevention/Demand Reduction
* Foreign Cooperative Investigations
* Forensic Sciences
* High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas
* Money Laundering
* Office of the Administrative Law Judges
* Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force
* State & Local Task Forces
* Southwest Border Initiative
* Victim-Witness Assistance Program
* Asset Forfeiture
* Aviation
* Cannabis Eradication
* Clandestine Drug Laboratory Cleanup
* Diversion Control/Prescription Drug Abuse
* Drug Prevention/Demand Reduction
* Foreign Cooperative Investigations
* Forensic Sciences
* High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas
* Money Laundering
* Office of the Administrative Law Judges
* Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force
* State & Local Task Forces
* Southwest Border Initiative
* Victim-Witness Assistance Program
Environment & Natural Resources Division (ENRD) ENRD handles environmental and natural resources litigation on behalf of the United States.
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Federal Civil And Criminal Statutes enforced:selected list
* Clean Air Act;
* Clean Water Act, CERCLA (Superfund);
* Safe Drinking Water Act;
* Endangered Species Act;
* Marine Mammal Protection Act;
* National Environmental Policy Act;
* Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act;
* Tucker Act.
Executive Office for U.S. Trustees (UST) The component of the DOJ responsible for overseeing the administration of bankruptcy cases and private trustees whose mission is to promote the integrity and efficiency of the bankruptcy system for the benefit of all stakeholders–debtors, creditors, and the public.
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Briefly, this Office oversees banks and bankruptcy.
Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) The domestic intelligence and security service of the United States, and its principal federal law enforcement agency. The FBI is a leading counterterrorism, counterintelligence, and criminal investigative organization and has jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crimes.
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The FBI Investigates
* Terrorism
* Counterintelligence
* Cyber Crime
* Public Corruption
* Civil Rights
* Organized Crime
* White-Collar Crime
* Violent Crime
* Weapons of Mass Destruction
Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) The OUW provides federal leadership for: reducing violence against women, administering justice, and strengthen services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
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Programs:
* Administers 4 "formula" grant programs
* Administers 21 discretionary grant programs

Note: OVW does not provide services directly to the public.
Organized Crime and Gang Section (OCGS) A specialized group of prosecutors charged with developing and implementing strategies to disrupt and dismantle the most significant regional, national and international gangs and organized crime groups.