Public Resources

Agency description:

The Department of Justice enforces the laws of the United States and serves as legal counsel to defend and advise the President and the heads of executive agencies in accordance with the law.

Website:

www.justice.gov

Enabling Statute:

“The Department of Justice is an executive department of the United States at the seat of Government.” 28 U.S.C. § 501

“The President shall appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, an Attorney General of the United States. The Attorney General is the head of the Department of Justice.” 28 U.S.C. § 503

Key issues:

Health care reform; counterterrorism; hate crimes; drug trafficking; Guantanamo Bay detainees; civil rights violations; Deep Water Horizon oil spill; fraud; antitrust.

Sub-agencies:

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Community Oriented Policing Services; Drug Enforcement Administration; Federal Bureau of Investigation; Federal Bureau of Prisons; Office of Justice Programs; U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. National Central Bureau of Interpol; U.S. Trustee Program

Agency description:

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives is a law enforcement agency that focuses on violent crimes and criminal organizations, terrorism, the storage and illegal use of explosives and firearms, and the illegal transport or sale of alcohol and tobacco products.

Website:

www.atf.gov

Key issues:

Gang violence; drug cartels and drug trafficking; organized crime; arms trafficking; terrorism; bombings.

Agency description:

Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) provides information and grants to state, local, and tribal police agencies.

Website:

www.cops.usdoj.gov

Key issues:

Methamphetamine initiative; school security; tribal assistance; child sexual predators.

Agency description:

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) enforces laws related to controlled substances.

Website:

www.justice.gov/dea/

Key issues:

Drug trafficking; illegal sale of prescription drugs; cleanup of clandestine drug labs.

Agency description:

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is charged with protecting the nation against terrorist and foreign intelligence threats within its borders and enforcing federal criminal laws.

Website:

www.fbi.gov

Key issues:

Most wanted fugitives and terrorists lists; kidnappings; missing persons; parental kidnappings; white collar crimes such as money laundering, wire fraud, mail fraud, mortgage fraud.

Agency description:

The Federal Bureau of Prisons manages the operation of federal prisons.

Website:

www.bop.gov

Key issues:

Corrections programs; federal executions; security.

Agency description:

The Office of Justice Programs provides information and strategies for effective law enforcement methods to federal, state, local, and tribal justice agencies.

Website:

www.ojp.usdoj.gov

Key issues:

Juvenile justice; tribal law enforcement; sex offender management in corrections facilities; substance abuse; crime fighting technology.

Agency description:

The U.S. Marshals Service is the oldest federal law enforcement agency; it serves as the enforcement branch of the federal court system.

Website:

www.usmarshals.gov

Key issues:

Fugitive investigations; federal arrest warrants; Witness Security Program.

Agency description:

The U.S. National Central Bureau of Interpol is the nation’s representative to the International Criminal Police Organization, INTERPOL.

Website:

www.justice.gov/usncb/

Key issues:

Drug investigations; alien/fugitive investigations; financial fraud; stolen antiquities; human trafficking.

Agency description:

The U.S. Trustee Program administers bankruptcy cases and private trustees.

Website:

www.justice.gov/ust

Key issues:

Bankruptcy; credit-counseling.