What are the major functions of the four agencies of the Department of Justice that are described in this chapter?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has top priority areas: terrorist attacks; foreign intelligence operations/ espionage; cyber-based attacks and high-tech crimes; weapons of mass destruction. They are also involved in investigating a variety of more traditional crimes, such as bank robberies, white collar crime, organized crime and drug syndicates, and so on. The FBI laboratory provides services to state and local police agencies. The FBI National Academy provides training for local police managers and supervisory-level police officers from around the country. The FBI operates the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), which provides local, state, and federal authorities with records relating to stolen property and missing persons and fugitives. The FBI also publishes the Uniform Crime Reports annually, which includes crime data from over 15,000 state and local police agencies.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) administers the U.S. Criminal Code provisions concerning alcohol and tobacco smuggling and diversion, as well as enforcing all federal laws relating to firearms, explosives, and arson. The ATF also maintains a Bomb and Arson Tracking System which allows law enforcement agencies to share information about bomb and arson cases. The ATF National Response Teams deploy to major explosion and fire scenes throughout the U.S. while the International Response Team provides assistance to other countries.

The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has primary responsibility for drug and narcotics enforcement, although they share this jurisdiction with the FBI. The DEA is responsible for the investigation and preparation for the prosecution of suspects connected with illicit drugs seized at U.S. ports of entry and international borders. In addition, the DEA conducts all relations with drug-enforcement officials of foreign governments, coordinates with state and local police officials on joint drug-enforcement efforts, and regulates the legal manufacture of drugs and other controlled substances.

The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) is responsible for the apprehension of federal fugitives and escaped federal prisoners. The USMS also transports federal prisoners and ensures the security of the federal courts. The agency also operates the Witness Protection Program, which provides new identities for federal witnesses.