FBI
PRIORITIES
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1.
Protect the United States from terrorist attack.
2. Protect the United States against foreign intelligence operations and
espionage.
3. Protect the United States against cyber-based attacks and high-technology
crimes.
4. Combat public corruption at all levels.
5. Protect civil rights.
6. Combat transnational and national criminal organizations and enterprises.
7. Combat major white-collar crime.
8. Combat significant violent crime.
9. Support federal, state, county, municipal, and international partners.
10. Upgrade technology to successfully perform the FBI’s mission. |
The
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the investigative
arm of the US Department of Justice. The FBI’s investigative
authority can be found in Title 28, Section 533 of the US
Code. Additionally, there are other statutes, such as the
Congressional Assassination, Kidnapping, and Assault Act
(Title 18, US Code, Section 351), which give the FBI responsibility
to investigate specific crimes.
Evolution of the FBI
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July 26, 1908
No specific name assigned; referred to as Special Agent Force
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March 16, 1909
Bureau of Investigation
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July 1, 1932
U.S. Bureau
of Investigation
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August 10, 1933
Division of Investigation
(The Division also included the Bureau of Prohibition)
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July 1, 1935
Federal Bureau
of Investigation
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MOTTO
The FBI motto is “Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity."
MISSION
The mission of the FBI is to protect and defend the United States against terrorist
and foreign intelligence threats, to uphold and enforce the criminal laws
of the United States, and to provide leadership and criminal justice services
to federal, state, municipal, and international agencies and partners.
The organization with these responsibilities has not always been called
the FBI.
CORE VALUES
The FBI will strive for excellence in all aspects of its missions. In pursuing
these missions and vision, the FBI and its employees will be true to, and
exemplify, the following core values:
• Adherence to the rule of law and the rights conferred to all under the United
States Constitution;
• Integrity through everyday ethical behavior;
• Accountability by accepting responsibility for our actions and decisions
and the consequences of our actions and decisions;
• Fairness in dealing with people; and
• Leadership through example, both at work and in our communities.
FBI Leadership Past
and Present
Since its creation in 1908, the FBI has had ten Directors:
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1908-1912
Chief Examiner
Stanley Finch
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1912-1919
Chief
A. Bruce Bielaski
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1919-1921
Director
William J. Flynn
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1921-1924
Director
William J. Burns
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1924-1972
Director
J. Edgar Hoover
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1973-1978
Director
Clarence M. Kelley
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1978-1987
Director
William H. Webster
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1987-1993
Director
William S. Sessions
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1993-2001
Director
Louis J. Freeh
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2001-Present
Director
Robert S. Mueller, III
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THE
DIRECTOR
The FBI is headed by a Director
who is appointed by the President and confirmed by the
Senate. On October 15, 1976, in reaction to the extraordinary
48-year term of J. Edgar Hoover, Congress passed Public
Law 94-503, which limits the term of each FBI Director
to ten years.
The current Director, Robert S. Mueller, III, was confirmed
as Director of the FBI by the Senate on August 2, 2001.
He took the oath of office on September
4, 2001. Director Mueller previously served as US Attorney for the Districts
of Northern California and Massachusetts and as Assistant Attorney General
in charge of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division. Director Mueller
has experience in the private practice of law and is a Fellow of the American
College of Trial Lawyers. For three years, he also served as an officer in
the United States Marine Corps. Director Mueller holds a bachelor of arts degree
from Princeton University, a master’s degree in international relations from
New York University,and a law degree from the University of Virginia.
HEADQUARTERS![Photograph of FBI Headquarters](/peth04/20041019043529im_/http://www.fbi.gov/libref/factsfigure/images/fbihq.jpg)
FBI Headquarters is currently located in the J. Edgar Hoover Building on Pennsylvania
Avenue in Washington, DC The Special Agents and support personnel who work
at Headquarters organize and coordinate FBI activities around the world.
Headquarters personnel determine investigative priorities, oversee major
cases, and manage the organization’s resources, technology, and personnel.
Headquarters also has a role in gathering and distributing information.
If a Special Agent in Boise, Idaho, has some information that would help
an Agent in New York City solve a case, Headquarters is responsible for
making sure the information gets from Boise to New York.
Headquarters plays a key role in fighting terrorism. It is the focal point
for intelligence, not only from around the country, but from the CIA and various
countries overseas. Headquarters takes the intelligence information it collects,
analyzes it, and sends it to field offices, state and municipal police departments,
and other federal agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security.
![Photograph of scientist in lab](/peth04/20041019043529im_/http://www.fbi.gov/libref/factsfigure/images/lab.jpg) |
In
the late 1990s, the FBI put a professional scientist
in charge of the Laboratory and instituted reforms
to improve evidence handling and optimize research.
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As the FBI
has grown, some Headquarters functions have been moved to
other locations. The Criminal Justice Information Services
Division is located in Clarksburg, West Virginia. The Laboratory
and Investigative Technologies Divisions are located in Quantico,
Virginia. Other specialized facilities, such as high-tech
computer forensics centers, are at various locations across
the country.
FBI
BUDGET
In fiscal year (FY) 2003, the FBI received a total of $4.298 billion, including
$540.281 million in net program increases to enhance Counterterrorism, Counterintelligence,
Cybercrime, Information Technology, Security, Forensics, Training, and Criminal
Programs.
THE FIELD
The nuts and bolts work of the FBI is done in its 56 field offices and their
400 satellite offices, known as resident agencies. It is the Special Agent
in the field who looks for clues, tracks down leads, and works with local
law enforcement to catch and arrest criminals. A Special Agent in Charge
oversees each field office, except for the largest field offices, in Washington,
DC; Los Angeles; and New York City, which are headed by an Assistant Director.
INTERNATIONAL
OFFICES
In addition to its field offices across the United States,
the FBI has 45 offices known as Legal Attachés or “Legats” located around the world. Legats are our
first line of defense beyond our borders. Their goals are simple—to stop foreign
crime as far from American shores as possible and to help solve international
crimes that do occur as quickly as possible.
To accomplish these goals, each Legat works with law enforcement
and security agencies in their host country to coordinate
investigations of interest to
both countries. Some Legats are responsible for coordination with law enforcement
personnel in several countries. The purpose of these Legats is strictly coordination;
they do not conduct foreign intelligence gathering or counterintelligence investigations.
The rules for joint activities and information-sharing are generally spelled
out in formal agreements between the United States and the Legat’s host country.
The entire worldwide Legat program is overseen by a Special Agent in Charge
located at FBI Headquarters.
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