A) General Investigation Division

The FBU formally called the Bureau of Investigation, was created primarily to handle criminal investigations for the Department of Jus­tice.

The FBI responsibilities continue to grow each year.

The FBI handles over 180 different investigations including Federal criminal violations[1], internal security matters and civil inquiries[2] in which the Government has an interest.

Since 1945, over 95 percent of the cases investigated by its agents which came before the courts have resulted in convictions[3].

Special Investigation Division

Organized crime is a lawless empire involved in gambling, nar­cotics, prostitution, extortion, etc. where easy money can be made. For years organized crime operated behind a nearly impenetrable wall[4] built on fear, intimidation, bribery, and force.

Squads of highly trained FBI Agents are devoting their full efforts to bringing the crime lords to justice[5], The objective is to collect suffi­cient evidence to build a strong prospective case[6] so gang leaders can be brought to justice swiftly. Cooperation is vital in the fight against or­ganized crime. The FBI works closely with state and local enforcement agencies.

This Division also supervises investigations under the Security of Government Employees programme[7].

Fugitive investigations often involve a great deal of manpower.

In addition to FBI fugitives, this Division directs the efforts of FBI Agents to locate and apprehend escaped Federal prisoners, deserters from the Armed Forces.

B) Identification Division

The largest collection of fingerprints in the world is maintained in the Identification Division of the FBI. A dangerous fugitive, wanted in .one state, may be located through fingerprint identification after his ar­rest on a minor charge under a different name by a police agency in another state. Fingerprints often are the only means of identifying vic­tims of various crimes.

Laboratory Division

The FBI Laboratory is the greatest criminological laboratory in the world. During the first 35 years of its existence, this laboratory made approximately 4.000.000 scientific examinations. Today, this laboratory is a large complex of scientific equipment, staffed with over 300 em­ployees most of whom have technical training. Included in this group are over 100 Special Agents with specialized training in a wide range of scientific fields. Many crimes are solved and many defendants convicted on the basis of material evidence submitted to the laboratory for exami­nation. Laboratory examinations on many occasions have proved the innocence of persons suspected of having committed crimes.

Domestic Intelligence Division

The FBI fights against all elements which pose a threat[8] to the security of the people in the United States, to the Nation's security.

C) Files and Communications Division

Often some of the most valuable leads in an investigation result from information already contained in the files of law enforcement agencies.

A teletype network provides constant twenty-four-hour contact between FBI headquarters and all Field Divisions. In addition, the FBI has a radio network, completely independent of commercial facilities.

Crime Records Division[9]

Training Division

All FBI Agents are trained at facilities in Washington, D.C., and at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. Today, the new Agents receive fourteen weeks of instruction. Two week retraining courses are held pe­riodically for all Agents. Although the theory of the various Law en­forcement arts and sciences is taught, the greater emphasis is placed on those practical skills and techniques demanded by day-to-day investiga­tions.

The courses range from the Constitution and Federal Criminal Procedure to Investigative Techniques and the Collection, Identifi­cation and Preservation of Physical Evidence. Thorough training is given in firearms and defensive tactics in order that an agent may defend himself in those extreme situations where life may be in danger. The Training Division also provides instructors for thousands police schools conducted by local enforcement agencies in communities across the Nation.

D) Administrative Division

The Administrative Division's major responsibilities are to see that the operations of the Bureau run smoothly and expenditures are kept within the limits of the annual appropriation granted by Congress. An­other duty of this Division is to recruit and assign the personnel neces­sary to fulfil the various functions of the FBI.

Inspection Division

The staff is composed of experienced, competent men who peri­odically review, inspect the total work performance of each field office and the headquarters staff. The inspections have as their goal the im­provement of management and investigative practices.

Questions to the text:

1. What does the FBI handle?

2. What are the main divisions of the FBI you can name?

3. What are the matters within the FBI jurisdiction?

4. In what way are the FBI Agents devoting their efforts to the fight against organized crime?

5. Who directs the efforts to locate and apprehend fugitives, escaped Federal prisoners, deserters from Armed Forces?

6. Where can valuable leads in an investigation be found very often?

7. Where is the largest collection of fingerpoints in the world?

8. What is the value of fingerprints in a number of crimes?

9. On the basis of which evidence are many crimes solved and many defendants convicted?