Law Enforcement Agencies in the United States
Police in the United States: Law Enforcement Agencies
Introduction to Law Enforcement Agencies
The principal law enforcement agencies of the federal government are the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, and the United States Postal Service. The jurisdiction of federal law enforcement agencies is limited to the government’s power to regulate interstate commerce, impose taxes, and enforce constitutional and federal law. Department of Justice agencies include the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which deals with bank robberies, kidnappings, terrorism, and violation of other federal laws and provides training, identification, and laboratory services to local police; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, which investigates alcohol and tobacco smuggling, bombings, and violations of federal firearms and arson laws; the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which investigates cases involving illicit narcotics and drugs; and the U.S. Marshals Service, which has responsibility for safeguarding and transporting federal prisoners and acting as marshals for U.S. courts. Law enforcement agencies in the Department of Homeland Security include the United States Coast Guard, which protects the country’s ports and waterways; the Bureau of Border Security, which enforces immigration laws and includes the Border Patrol; the Secret Service, whose primary responsibilities include protection of the president and vice president and their families and investigation of counterfeiting; and the United States Customs Service, which investigates smuggling and inspects passengers, vehicles, and cargo entering or leaving the country. Within the U.S. Postal Service, the Postal Inspections Service deals with such crimes as mail fraud and misuse of the mails.
Basically, two kinds of state police agencies exist in the United States: those with general functions similar to local police and those with limited responsibilities, mainly involving highway patrol on state roads.
A city police force is usually organized as one of several departments within the local government. The police are part of the local criminal justice system, which is the means by which society deals with criminals. The system includes the prosecuting attorney’s office, the courts, probation offices, and corrections agencies.
There are thousands of private and industrial security forces in the United States. These organizations employ a substantial percentage of all persons engaged in police work, and the use of private security by both businesses and individuals is increasing rapidly. Large corporations often maintain security forces to curb internal thefts, shoplifting, robberies, and trespassing.” (1)
Resources
Notes and References
- Information about Law Enforcement Agencies in the Encarta Online Encyclopedia
Guide to Law Enforcement Agencies
About U.S. Federal Departments
Federal Departments, Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, Department of Defense (including Department of Defense Purpose, Department of Defense Organization, Department of Defense Liaison of Command and Department of Defense Supporting Agencies), Department of Education, Department of Energy
(including Department of Energy Purpose, Department of Energy Organization and Department of Energy Research and Development), Department of Health and Human Services (including Department of Health and Human Services History and Department of Health and Human Services Agencies and Services), Department of Homeland Security (including Department of Homeland Security Organization and Functions, Department of Homeland Security Origins and Department of Homeland Security Supporting Agencies), Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Justice (including Department of Justice Functions, Department of Justice Structure and Department of Justice Associated Agencies), Department of Labor, Department of National Defence, Department of State (including Department of State Administration and Department of State Bureaus), Department of the Air Force, Department of the Army, Department of the Interior (including Department of the Interior Functions and Department of the Interior Principal Agencies), Department of the Navy, Department of the Treasury, Department of Transportation, Department of Veterans Affairs (including the Department of Veterans Affairs Service Categories, Department of Veterans Affairs Benefits Available and GI Bill of Rights) and Department of War.
Law Enforcement Agencies in State Statute Topics
Introduction to Law Enforcement Agencies (State statute topic)
The purpose of Law Enforcement Agencies is to provide a broad appreciation of the Law Enforcement Agencies legal topic. Select from the list of U.S. legal topics for information (other than Law Enforcement Agencies).
Resources
Further Reading
- Information about Law Enforcement Agencies in the Gale Encyclopedia of American Law.