The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is a domestic intelligence and security service of the United States Department of Justice. It is also a member of the U.S. Intelligence Community and reports to both the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence.
The FBI is a leading U.S. counterterrorism, counterintelligence, and criminal investigative organization with jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crimes.
The FBI's top priorities are:
- Protect the United States from terrorist attacks.
- Protect the United States against foreign intelligence operations, espionage, and cyber operations.
- Combat significant cyber criminal activity.
- Combat public corruption at all levels.
- Protect civil rights.
- Combat transnational criminal enterprises.
- Combat major white-collar crime.
- Combat significant violent crime.
The FBI has a workforce of over 35,000 employees, including more than 13,000 special agents. The FBI has 56 field offices located throughout the United States and 60 legal attachés offices located in U.S. embassies and consulates around the world.
The FBI was founded in 1908 by Charles Joseph Bonaparte, the United States Attorney General at the time. The FBI's original mission was to investigate violations of federal law, but its mission has since expanded to include a wide range of national security and law enforcement responsibilities.
The FBI has played a major role in many of the most important events in American history. For example, the FBI investigated the Lindbergh kidnapping, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, and the September 11th terrorist attacks.
History
The history of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) can be traced back to 1908, when Attorney General Charles Joseph Bonaparte established a small investigative force within the Department of Justice. This force was known as the Bureau of Investigation (BOI).
The BOI's early years were marked by a number of challenges. The agency was underfunded and understaffed, and it was often criticized for its political bias. However, the BOI gradually gained a reputation for its professionalism and effectiveness.
In 1924, J. Edgar Hoover was appointed director of the BOI. Hoover would remain in this position for the next 48 years. Under Hoover's leadership, the BOI became a powerful and respected law enforcement agency. The BOI played a major role in the investigation of a number of high-profile cases, such as the Lindbergh kidnapping and the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
In 1935, the BOI was renamed the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The FBI continued to grow in size and importance during the 20th century. The FBI played a major role in the fight against organized crime, and it also became involved in the investigation of national security threats.
The FBI has been criticized for a number of its actions, such as its use of surveillance and its COINTELPRO program. However, the FBI remains one of the most important law enforcement agencies in the United States.
Here is a timeline of some of the key events in the history of the FBI:
- 1908: The Bureau of Investigation (BOI) is established within the Department of Justice.
- 1924: J. Edgar Hoover is appointed director of the BOI.
- 1932: The BOI establishes the first national crime laboratory in the United States.
- 1935: The BOI is renamed the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
- 1941: The FBI establishes the National Academy, a training facility for law enforcement officers.
- 1952: The FBI establishes the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program, which collects data on crime in the United States.
- 1960s: The FBI conducts the COINTELPRO program, a series of covert operations aimed at disrupting domestic political organizations.
- 1972: J. Edgar Hoover dies.
- 1974: The FBI establishes the Hostage Rescue Team (HRT).
- 1993: The FBI establishes the Critical Incident Response Group (CIRG).
- 2001: The FBI plays a major role in the investigation of the September 11th terrorist attacks.
- 2002: The FBI establishes the Terrorist Screening Center (TSC).
- 2013: The FBI establishes the Cyber Division.
J. Edgar Hoover Yearsary
J. Edgar Hoover served as the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for 48 years, from 1924 to 1972. During his tenure, Hoover transformed the FBI from a small, underfunded agency into a powerful and respected law enforcement organization.
Hoover was a controversial figure, and his legacy is still debated today. He was praised for his dedication to law enforcement and his success in combating crime. However, he was also criticized for his use of surveillance, his political maneuvering, and his personal vendettas.
Early years
Hoover was appointed director of the BOI in 1924 at the age of 29. He immediately began to modernize the agency, establishing a centralized fingerprint file and a training academy for agents. Hoover also placed a strong emphasis on scientific crime detection, and he established the FBI's first crime laboratory in 1932.
Under Hoover's leadership, the FBI played a major role in the investigation of a number of high-profile cases, such as the Lindbergh kidnapping, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, and the Unabomber case. The FBI also became involved in the investigation of national security threats, such as espionage and terrorism.
Hoover's methods
Hoover was a master of public relations, and he carefully cultivated the FBI's image as a G-men agency. He was also a skilled bureaucrat, and he was able to build a powerful network of allies in the government and the media.
However, Hoover was also a ruthless and vindictive man. He used the FBI to collect information on his political enemies, and he was not afraid to use this information to blackmail or destroy them. Hoover also had a deep-seated fear of communism, and he used the FBI to harass and intimidate suspected communists.
Hoover's legacy
Hoover's legacy is complex and controversial. He was a brilliant and dedicated law enforcement officer who made significant contributions to the fight against crime. However, he was also a power-hungry and manipulative man who abused his authority.
Hoover's tenure as FBI director was a time of both great progress and great scandal. The FBI became a more professional and effective law enforcement agency, but it also became a tool for political repression. Hoover's legacy is a reminder of the importance of checks and balances in a democracy.