Joanne Walker
Overview of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
CCJ 1020 Introduction to Criminal Justice
Fall Semester 2024
October 13, 2024
Word Count: 1,124
Abstract
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is one of the major law enforcement agencies
of the United States. With an annual budget that is approximately $10 billion dollars, the agency
is tasked with protecting citizens from terrorism to white collar crimes to violent crimes
(Newton, 2015). This research will focus on the FBI’s purpose, history, and organizational
structure. As the research concludes a personal reflection is included on why I chose to research
this agency as well as if this agency is one in which I would seek employment from upon
graduation.
Purpose
The FBI operates with the mission “to protect the American people and uphold the
Constitution of the United States” (FBI, 2024). This mission is wide encompassing and requires
many divisions within the agency. According to Newton (2015) the following types of criminal
activities are the focus of the FBI:
● White-collar crime: FBI agents investigate bank fraud, wire fraud, identity theft, and
other financial related crimes.
● Civil rights: Protecting the civil rights of all individuals is a top priority of the FBI.
● Terrorism: The FBI Counterterrorism Division focuses on extremist behavior that is
aimed towards the United States and its citizens.
● Corruption: Bribery, embezzlement, kickbacks, extortion, and political related offenses
are investigated by FBI field offices.
● Cybercrimes: Computer scams, sex trafficking, and child pornography are all offenses
that the FBI safeguards the United States from.
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● Violent Crimes: Gang and drug related activities are a focal point for the FBI.
Additionally, violent crimes that cross State lines or involve a federal related crime are
investigated by the FBI.
History
In 1935, the Federal Bureau of Investigation officially received its name from the
Division of Investigation (Charles and Stockham, 2022). In the early years of the FBI, the
agency focused primarily on crime within communities often committed by criminal enterprises.
Additionally, the FBI focused several years on the bootlegging of illegal liquor.
The 1940’s brought a new form of investigations, a focus on national security (Charles
and Stockham, 2022). During these early years of the program, Nazi and other foreign country
espionage was a focus of the FBI. World War II relied on FBI programs that targeted the
investigation of Japanese Nationals as well as other individuals considered to be foreign
nationals (Charles and Stockham, 2022).
The 1950’s ushered in three additional focuses for the FBI. Actions that were considered
sexual offenses or exploits of individuals, the implementation of civil rights, and a concerted
effort of targeting organized crime all saw developments. From these three new initiatives,
investigations into sex trafficking, cybercrimes involving sexual exploitation, the protection of
all individuals’ civil liberties, and new guidelines towards white collar and corruption would
come under the jurisdiction of the FBI.
Organization
The FBI is led by a director who is limited to serve for ten years. This time limit was
implemented after the FBI had J. Edgar Hoover as the Director of the FBI from 1924 to 1972
(Masse and Krause, 2003). Underneath the director’s office, is a complex network of field
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offices, branches, sub-branches, and other offices that all have Assistant Directors, Chiefs, and
Officers (Masse and Krause, 2003).
The FBI is divided into six branches throughout the nation. These include the FBI
Intelligence Branch, FBI National Security Branch, FBI Criminal, Cyber, Response, and
Services Branch, FBI Science and Technology Branch, and FBI Human Resources Branch.
According to Masse and Krause (2003) these branches then have a hieracrchy of agents that start
with Field Agents, Special Agents, Supervisory Agents, and Special Agent-In-Charge. The
management division of the FBI is a complex hierarchy that begins with Assistant Directors and
climbs to the top – the Director.
The final divisions of the FBI are in Washington D.C. which is the headquarters of the
agency. At the headquarters, every department that the FBI investigates can be found. These
include the Counterintelligence Division, Terrorist Screening Center, Office of Private Sector,
Violent Crime Section, Cyber Division, Victim Services Division, and the Child Exploitation
Unit (Masse and Krause, 2003).
Why I chose this topic
Having a loved one go through an FBI investigation, I was drawn to this agency to obtain
a better understanding. Until you have some form of involvement with them, the FBI feels like a
mythical, behind the scenes organization, that nobody ever sees. Stepping back and analyzing
the FBI from what I witnessed, I saw the strengths and the weaknesses of the agency. By
choosing this agency, I was able to understand their complexities, restrictions, resources, and
motives.
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Would I Seek Employment
For me, seeking employment with the FBI would be a resounding no. Even, if I had the
slightest interest, the prospects of hiring me would be very minimal due to my close relationship
of one of their investigations. There are several other factors that would prevent me from
wanting to work for the agency, mostly being personal opinions.
I saw first-hand how FBI agents used information to conclude their own versions of the
facts. What they were able to decipher was so incorrect, it made defending their allegations
seem impossible because there was zero relationship between their discovery, conclusions, and
the facts. However, I sympathize with the employees. I do believe they are giving their best
despite receiving average pay and being overworked.
The other reason I would not want to work for the agency is the burnout effect. Agents
are in a constant state of investigating and following protocol while focusing on numerous cases
at one time. When you factor their pay, workload, and the stress of their jobs, it is
understandable to see frustration and burnout occur.
Ultimately, I do appreciate the dedication that agents and staff put forth for the sake of
protecting the United States of America and all the citizens. I truly do believe the agents are out
to seek the truth and do what they believe is right by the mission of the FBI and the United States
Constitution. Still, this is just not the agency for me.
References
Charles, D. M., & Stockham, A. J. (Eds.). (2022). The Federal Bureau of Investigation: History,
Powers, and Controversies of the FBI [2 volumes]. Bloomsbury Publishing USA.
Masse, T., & Krouse, W. J. (2003, October). The FBI: past, present, and future. Congressional
Research Service, Library of Congress.
(n.d).2024. Federal Bureau of Investigations. What we Investigate.
https://www.fbi.gov/investigate
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Newton, M. (2015). The FBI encyclopedia. McFarland.
I, Joanne Cerrito, understand that my turnitin.com score is required to be 25% or less. I
understand that all the references that I use in the Research Paper must come from the Gather
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