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The FBI is an intelligence-driven and threat-focused national security organization with both intelligence and law enforcement responsibilities.
The mission of the FBI is to protect the American people and uphold the Constitution of the United States.
The FBI has divided its investigations into programs, such as domestic and international terrorism, foreign counterintelligence, cyber crime, etc.
The FBI stands for Federal Bureau of Investigation. “Federal” refers to the national government of the United States. “Bureau” is another word for department or division of government. “Investigation” is what we do—gathering facts and evidence to solve and prevent crimes.
On July 26, 1908, Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte appointed an unnamed force of special agents to be the investigative force of the Department of Justice. The FBI evolved from this small group.
The FBI is led by a Director, who is appointed by the U.S. president and confirmed by the Senate for a term not to exceed 10 years. The current Director is Kash Patel.
The FBI is headquartered in Washington, D.C. The offices and divisions at FBI Headquarters provide direction and support to 55 field offices in big cities, more than 350 smaller offices known as resident agencies, several specialized field installations, and more than 60 liaison offices in other countries known as legal attachés.
The FBI employs approximately 38,000 people, including special agents and support professionals such as intelligence analysts, language specialists, scientists, and information technology specialists.
No. The FBI is a national security organization that works closely with many partners around the country and across the globe to address the most serious security threats facing the nation. We are one of many federal agencies with law enforcement responsibilities.
Any author, television script writer, or producer may consult with the FBI about closed cases or our operations, services, or history. However, there is no requirement that they do so, and the FBI does not edit or approve their work. Some authors, television programs, or motion picture producers offer reasonably accurate presentations of our responsibilities, investigations, and procedures in their story lines, while others present their own interpretations or introduce fictional events, persons, or places for dramatic effect.
The FBI has a range of legal authorities that enable it to investigate federal crimes and threats to national security, as well as to gather intelligence and assist other law enforcement agencies.
If a possible violation of federal law under the jurisdiction of the FBI has occurred, the Bureau will conduct an investigation. The information and evidence gathered in the course of that investigation are then presented to the appropriate U.S. Attorney or Department of Justice official, who will determine whether or not prosecution or further action is warranted. Depending on the outcome of the investigation, evidence is either returned or retained for court.
A person arrested by the FBI is taken into custody, photographed, and fingerprinted. In addition, an attempt often is made to obtain a voluntary statement from the arrestee. The arrestee remains in FBI custody until the initial court appearance, which must take place without unnecessary delay.
In the U.S. and its territories, FBI special agents may make arrests for any federal offense committed in their presence or when they have reasonable grounds to believe that the person to be arrested has committed, or is committing, a felony violation of U.S. laws. On foreign soil, FBI special agents generally do not have authority to make arrests except in certain cases where, with the consent of the host country, Congress has granted the FBI extraterritorial jurisdiction.
No. Wiretapping is one of the FBI’s most sensitive techniques and is strictly controlled by federal statutes. It is used infrequently and only to combat terrorism and the most serious crimes. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 2516, contains the protocol requiring all law enforcement officers to establish probable cause that the wiretaps may provide evidence of a felony violation of federal law. After determining if a sufficient showing of probable cause has been made, impartial federal judges approve…
FBI special agents may use deadly force only when necessary—when the agent has a reasonable belief that the subject of such force poses an imminent danger of death or serious physical injury to the agent or another person. If feasible, a verbal warning to submit to the authority of the special agent is given prior to the use of deadly force.
No. State and local law enforcement agencies are not subordinate to the FBI, and the FBI does not supervise or take over their investigations. Instead, the investigative resources of the FBI and state and local agencies are often pooled in a common effort to investigate and solve the cases. In fact, many task forces composed of FBI agents and state and local officers have been formed to locate fugitives and to address serious threats like terrorism and street violence.
A “stop” will be placed against the fugitive’s fingerprints in the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services Division. Local police will be notified immediately upon the receipt of any additional fingerprints of the fugitive. The fugitive’s name and identifying data also will be entered into the National Crime Information Center, a computerized database that is accessible to law enforcement agencies nationwide.
Yes. The FBI will initiate a kidnapping investigation involving a missing child “of tender years,” even though there is no known interstate aspect. “Tender years” is generally defined as a child 12 years or younger. The FBI will monitor other kidnapping situations when there is no evidence of interstate travel, and it offers assistance from various entities including the FBI Laboratory.
The FBI can only use informants consistent with specific guidelines issued by the attorney general that control the use of informants.
Informants are not hired or trained employees of the FBI, although they may receive compensation in some instances for their information and expenses.
If there is a question as to whether or not a federal violation has occurred, the FBI consults with the U.S. Attorney’s office in the district where the alleged offense took place.
Detailed information about current FBI investigations is protected from public disclosure, in accordance with current law and Department of Justice and FBI policy.
The FBI does not provide copies of arrest records to individuals other than the subject of the record; you cannot request someone else’s records.
The FBI’s activities are closely and regularly scrutinized by a variety of entities, including Congress, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the Director of National Intelligence.
There is no such thing as a “typical day” for an FBI agent; our agents enforce many different federal laws and perform various roles in the Bureau.
Agents carry Bureau-issued or approved handguns and may be issued additional equipment as needed.
In most cases one must be between 23 and 37 years old to become a special agent; the FBI’s qualification requirements webpage has further information.
Agents are updated on the latest developments in the intelligence and law enforcement communities through training opportunities at the FBI Academy and elsewhere.
The FBI Wall of Honor lists agents designated as service martyrs—killed during direct adversarial force—and those who lost their lives in the performance of their duty, outside adversarial confrontation.
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