Jurisdictions and Functions of the FBI

The criminal justice system consists of several government agencies whose work is to track, capture, and punish criminals. These agencies each have their roles, responsibilities, and jurisdictions which they operate. It is the reason why there are specific differentiations such as the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, the New York Police Department, O.C Superior Court, the Drug Enforcement Agency, and so on. The current report focuses on the Federal Bureau of Investigation and asserts some of its core characteristics and roles in the criminal justice system field. The article divides into the agency description, jurisdiction’s authority and the scope of the responsibilities, the specific duties that are assigned to them, and the requirements of eligibility for anyone wishing to join the agency.

AGENCY DESCRIPTION

The FBI protects and defends the United States against threats from any terrorist and foreign intelligence, uphold and enforce criminal laws, and provide leadership and criminal justice services to the federal, state, municipal, and international agencies, and partners. Public safety is of core importance to the FBI. The agency’s headquarters are in Washington, DC. The location is strategic as it provides a centralized operational policy, which makes it easy to provide administrative support to FBI investigations. The core investigative and intelligence work is accomplished by 56 field officers situated in major U.S. cities and over 370 resident agencies, dubbed “RAs,” from all over the country. The RAs are satellite offices which are meant to give a feel that the FBI is concerned over the local community welfare. There are 64 Legal Attaché (Legat) offices, and 14 sub-offices in 67 countries across the globe (FBI n.p.). The core values of the FBI include rigorous obedience to the Constitution, respect for the U.S. citizens’ dignity, fairness, compassion, personal and professional dignity, non-compromise of individual and institutional integrity, and accountability (FBI Jobs 5). The current FBI Director is Christopher Wray, who has served as number eight in the position since August 2017 to present. Other senior staff include David Bowdich as the Deputy Directory, the Associate Deputy Director Paul Abbate, and Zachary Harmon who is the Chief of Staff (FBI Leadership & Structure n.p.). The office of the Director/Deputy Director/ Associate Deputy Directors has the following further divisions; finance and facilities, information management, inspection, the office of the Chief Information Officer, Congressional Affairs, EEO Affairs, General Counsel, Integrity and Compliance, Ombudsman, Professional Responsibility, Public Affairs, and Resource Planning.

FBI JURISDICTION AND SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITIES

The authority held by the FBI allows the agency to
make arrests for federal crimes committed. However, its jurisdiction and that
of federal officers may go beyond these functions in some cases.  For example, an FBI agent is allowed to make
an arrest whenever they come across a crime
being committed. Other instances include
arresting individuals believed to have committed a crime, or in the process of
doing so as long as there is irrefutable evidence that proves the officers
claim (Leopulse
n.p.). The FBI
typically work in conjunction with the
local policies. Its investigative authority is nonetheless, the broadest of all
federal law enforcement agencies. Its strategic approach stresses long-term and
complex investigations, which emphasize the close working relationships with
other agencies from federal, state such as Interpol, foreign police and security officers in Washington,
local, international law enforcement and intelligence agencies (Office of the United States
Attorneys n.p.). The liaison and
information sharing practices conducted between the FBI and any international law enforcement agencies is mediated by executive orders, laws,
treaties, Attorney General Guidelines, FBI governing policies, and interagency
agreements (FBI International Operations n.p.). These guidelines allow for
greater uniformity and control for both national and international objectives.

FBI FUNCTIONS

According to the Office of the United States
Attorneys, the FBI agency is
divided into seven programs that help it achieve its objectives. They
include applicant matter, civil rights, counterterrorism, foreign
counterintelligence, organized crimes/drugs, violent crimes and major offenders, and financial crime
(n.p.). These are the primary
responsibilities of the FBI as dictated by the law. However, due to the
differences in size, potential impacts or sensitivity of the individual cases,
the scope of investigation may vary with extensive attention paid to crimes
that demand so. However, the scope of responsibility for the FBI is as follows
according to FDIAgentEDU.org
(n.p,) & Leopulse (n.p.):

• Terrorism. The Federal Bureau of Investigation identifies, investigates,
  disrupts, and arrests those with terrorist intentions (both domestic and international).
  This function is considered to be the most important
  and requires the utilization of diverse and specialized
  skill sets. The terrorist group also detains and interrogates any known
  terrorist groups or individuals on the U.S. soil
• Organized Crime. The function covers many kinds of well-structured,
  persistent, criminal enterprises such as the Italian Mafia, illegal gambling,
  and sports bribery. The agency is now capable of observing and recording
  prominent organized crime activities in foreign countries to track associates. Aside from the Mafia, the FBI covers organized
  crime in the Balkans, the Middle East,
  Asia, Africa, Eurasia, and South America.
• Civil Rights. The FBI also
  protects and upholds all civil rights of
  the U.S. citizens. It prevents the persecution of civil rights through such
  activities such as pursuing hate crimes cases, human trafficking, and so on.
  Alternatively, it protects the rights to access
  public institutions such as libraries, schools, government offices, and
  hospitals.
• Public Corruption. The FBI also concerns itself with the protection of the public against public
  corruption that arises through scenarios such as election fraud, government
  bribery, and any other instances that would undermine the democracy that the
  U.S. champions. It operates as the watchdog to government operations, using
  technology to oversee all transactions and behaviors
  of public officials.
• White-Collar Crime. The FBI is at the forefront of preventing or
  fighting against white-collar crimes such
  as mortgage fraud, money laundering, and securities fraud, antitrust, and
  intellectual property theft. Also related to such cases would include internet
  schemes, identity theft, or large-scale investing scams.
• Violent Crimes and Major Thefts. Gang members and online predators are part of the responsibility scope of the
  FBI. Property theft rings and bank robbers are also considered part of the
  violent crimes and significant theft
  category and jurisdiction of the FBI. They work with local police and provide
  the relevant skills to control dangerous crimes. The agency also maintains a
  database of stolen artwork and those responsible for the theft.
• Cyber Crime. The FBI also searches for people that carry out
  computer attacks and intrusion. Offering protection for private information,
  internet fraud, and identity theft are part of the FBI’s scope of
  responsibilities. They carry these activities both offensively and defensively.

REQUIREMENTS 

The FBI employs several
people to fill in positions as field agents or professional staff, each
of which has different requirements for entry-level positions. However, to apply for any of the posts, one must fulfill the
following conditions;

Disqualifiers

Automatic deselection of applied candidates will take
place for individuals who are non-U.S. citizens, have a history of conviction
for a felony, violated the terms of the
FBI Employment Drug Policy, defaulted student loans, or the failure to pass an
FBI-administered drug test. Also, if one fails to register with the Selective
Service System, they stand to fact automatic disqualification. Although, this
requirement only applies to the male candidates. Further, any activity or
attempt to or is designed to overthrow
the U.S government by force is not treated
kindly. Other conditions include the failure to pay child support or failing to file federal, state, or local income
tax returns (FBI Jobs 12).

Employment
Drug Policy

The FBI prides itself on
being a drug-free society and workplace and does not hire applicants who
currently use illegal drugs, misuse or
abuse drugs or any other substances. Another instance of disqualification
occurs when the candidate is believed (with proof) to have misrepresented their
drug history relative to their application. Candidates may not have used
marijuana for three years preceding their application, and medical forms cannot
be used as mitigating factors whatsoever.
The use of illegal drugs requires the candidates to be clean for more than ten
years before their FBI application. In addition to this, they should not have
been involved in the manufacture, distribution, transportation, or sold illegal
drugs without a permit. The same case applies for prescription drugs such as
anabolic steroids (FBI Jobs 13).

Background
Investigation

Candidates must receive the FBI Top Secret Security
Clearance after completion of the FBI Background Investigation. The Intensive
Background Investigation follows, and once proceeds forward with employment
after passing. Preliminary requirements include the use of the polygraph
examination, illegal drug use test, credit and records checks, and extensive
interviews with people close to the candidate such as former and current
colleagues, neighbors, professors, and
friends (FBI Jobs 14).

Other
Qualifications

Candidates must possess at least a degree before applying for an FBI entry job position.
If the applicant provides a degree not obtained from an accredited university
or college in the United States, then it must be of equivalent certification at
the time of the application. Advanced degrees may take precedence over a
foreign bachelor’s degree. The agency tests both physical and mental skills.
All FBI personnel must exhibit leadership, collaboration, organization,
planning, problem solving and judgment, flexibility or adaptability,
initiative, and communication. These must be evidenced in the application,
providing evidence as to how each of these competencies
are demonstrated. In addition to these,
the candidate must score high on intelligence, self-discipline, and mental
stability. Another condition is that one must have been successfully employed in a full-time professional work setting
with three years’ experience and with a 6-month valid driver’s license. The age
should not exceed 36 before the full
appointment (FBI
Jobs 18).

Works Cited

FBI Jobs. “Employment
Eligibility.” Department of Justice, https://www.fbijobs.gov/working-at-fbi/eligibility

FBI Jobs.
“Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Selection Process Candidate
Information Packet.” Department of Justice, 2017,
www.fbijobs.gov/sites/default/files/Special_Agent_Candidate_Information_Packet.pdf.

FBI.
“Federal Bureau of Investigations Summary.” Department of Justice, 2013,
www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/jmd/legacy/2013/10/08/fy13-fbi-bud-summary.pdf.

FDIAgentEDU.org.
“Examples of the FBI’s Jurisdiction.” How to Become an FBI Agent? 2014 https://www.fbiagentedu.org/2014/06/examples-of-the-fbis-jurisdiction/

Federal
Bureau of Investigations. “International Operations.” FBI, FBI, 14 June
2016, www.fbi.gov/about/leadership-and-structure/international-operations.

Federal
Bureau of Investigations. “Leadership & Structure.” FBI, FBI, 14
July 2016, www.fbi.gov/about/leadership-and-structure.

Leopulse.
“FBI Jurisdiction & Investigative Priorities.” Drug Enforcement
Administration’s Jurisdiction & Investigative Priorities – LEO Pulse,
2018, www.leopulse.com/research/federal/fbi/jurisdiction-investigations.

Office
of the United States Attorneys. “9. A FBI
Organizational Structure and Investigative Jurisdiction.” The United States
Department of Justice, 18 Dec. 2015, https://www.justice.gov/usam/organization-and-functions-manual-9-fbi-organizational-structure-and-investigative-jurisdiction