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The United States Government Manual
Federal Bureau of Investigation
935 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20535
202-324-3000
http://www.fbi.gov
| DIRECTOR | Christopher A. Wray |
| Deputy Director | Paul M. Abbate |
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the Department of Justice's principal investigative arm. It is primarily charged with gathering and reporting facts, locating witnesses, and compiling evidence in cases involving Federal jurisdiction. It also provides law enforcement leadership and assistance to State and international law enforcement agencies.
The FBI was established in 1908 by the Attorney General, who directed that Department of Justice investigations be handled by its own staff. The Bureau is charged with investigating all violations of Federal law except those that have been assigned by legislative enactment or otherwise to another Federal agency. Its jurisdiction includes a wide range of responsibilities in the national security, criminal, and civil fields. Priority has been assigned to areas such as counterterrorism, counterintelligence, cybercrimes, internationally and nationally organized crime and drug-related activities, and financial crimes.
The FBI also offers cooperative services to local, State, and international law enforcement agencies. These services include fingerprint identification, laboratory examination, police training, the Law Enforcement Online communication and information service for use by the law enforcement community, the National Crime Information Center, and the National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime.
Sources of Information
Archived Records
The "Guide to Federal Records in the National Archives of the United States" indicates that FBI records have been assigned to record group 065.
https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/065.htmlCareer Opportunities
The FBI relies on professionals with diverse expertise and skills to analyze data for the intelligence community, safeguard national security, and support the structure of the Bureau. Information on career opportunities, including student internships, is available online.
https://www.fbijobs.govIn 2020, the FBI ranked 223d among 411 agency subcomponents in the Partnership for Public Service's Best Places To Work Agency Rankings.
https://bestplacestowork.org/rankings/detail/?c=DJ02Contact Information
The "Contact Us" web page provides convenient access to information for contacting FBI headquarters, field offices, and overseas offices.
https://www.fbi.gov/contact-usMembers of the public may report a violation of U.S. Federal law or suspected terrorism or criminal activity to the FBI.
https://www.fbi.gov/tipsCrime Statistics
The Uniform Crime Reporting program generates reliable statistics for use in law enforcement. It also releases information that is relevant for students of criminal justice, researchers, the media, and the public. The program has been generating crime statistics since 1930. The crime reporting program includes data from more than 18,000 city, university and college, county, State, Tribal, and Federal law enforcement agencies. Agencies participate voluntarily and submit their crime data either through a State UCR program or directly to the FBI's UCR Program.
https://www.fbi.gov/services/cjis/ucrFederal Register
Significant documents and documents that the FBI recently published in the Federal Register are accessible online.
https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/federal-bureau-of-investigationFreedom of Information Act (FOIA)
The FOIA provides that a person may request access to Federal agency records or information. The FBI must disclose records that any person properly requests in writing. Pursuant to one or more of nine exemptions and three exclusions that the Act contains, a Federal agency can withhold certain records or parts of them. The FOIA applies only to Federal agencies and does not create a right of access to records held by the U.S. Congress, the courts, State or local government agencies, and private entities.
https://www.fbi.gov/services/information-management/foipaThe FBI's electronic FOIA library, which contains nearly 7,000 documents and other media that have been scanned from paper and made into more accessible digital copies, is named the "Vault." The library includes new files that have been released to the public, but never added to the FBI website; dozens of records previously posted on the FBI website, but removed when requests diminished; files from the previous FBI FOIA Library; and new and previously unreleased files.
https://vault.fbi.govFrequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The FBI posts answers to FAQs.
https://www.fbi.gov/about/faqsHistory
The FBI posted a brief agency history on its website.
https://www.fbi.gov/historyMost Wanted
The FBI maintains the official "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" list on its website.
https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/toptenNews
The FBI posts top news stories, press releases, podcasts, radio broadcasts, speeches, and Tweets on its "News" web page.
https://www.fbi.gov/newsPublications
The FBI's training division maintains the "Law Enforcement Bulletin" website.
https://leb.fbi.govThe FBI maintains an extensive "Reports and Publications" database.
https://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publicationsResources
The "Resources" web page provides convenient access to information on business opportunities and victim services. It also has links to featured publications and frequently requested forms and services.
https://www.fbi.gov/resourcesSafe Online Surfing
The FBI maintains a "Safe Online Surfing" website for children.
https://www.fbi.gov/fbi-kidsServices
Services that the FBI provides are presented on a single "Services" web page.
https://www.fbi.gov/servicesSocial Media
The FBI started its presence on social media in 2008. Today, the Bureau has dozens of pages and sites.
https://www.fbi.gov/news/fbi-social-media-sites