FBI Agents in the United States
Federal Bureau of Investigation Agents
Introduction to FBI Agents
FBI special agents are responsible for conducting investigations. They perform their duties mainly from the field offices located around the country, guided by supervisors in the field offices and at headquarters. Agents are responsible for gathering information and evidence about possible criminal activity that may be used by federal prosecutors in court.
To carry out their duties, FBI agents are entrusted with extremely broad powers. They are authorized to carry weapons and, under some circumstances, to shoot to kill. They can place suspects under arrest. With permission of the courts, they can eavesdrop on private phone conversations, videotape what goes on in people’s homes, open mailboxes and read mail, and obtain telephone bills, income tax returns, and other confidential documents. They can also subpoena witnesses to testify before a grand jury. While pursuing suspects, they are authorized to break traffic laws. By showing their credentials, FBI agents can bypass airport security and take weapons onto airplanes. If necessary, they can request help from the CIA, the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), and foreign governments. But unless agents are on bureau business and have proper authorization, they have no more power than any other citizens.
Special FBI units sometimes assist agents in especially dangerous or unusual situations. The Critical Incident Response Group is deployed during terrorist incidents, hostage situations, and major crimes that require emergency action. The Hostage Rescue Team develops and executes tactical plans to rescue hostages, negotiate with barricaded individuals, and assist in high-risk arrests and raids.
People seeking employment as special agents must be U.S. citizens at least 23 years old but no older than 36. To qualify for training, applicants must have a four-year degree from a college or university. The agency prefers those with law or accounting degrees because they can more easily understand federal criminal laws and financial crimes, respectively. It also admits applicants with expertise in languages and those with a bachelor’s degree and at least three years of relevant work experience. All prospective agents must have a valid driver’s license and pass a polygraph examination, a drug test, a vision test, a hearing test, and a comprehensive background check. Applicants must also be in excellent physical condition. New agents undergo 17 weeks of intensive training at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, where they learn about federal law, crime investigation, firearms use, defensive tactics, and other subjects. Periodically, agents return to the academy for in-service training on the latest techniques in law enforcement.” (1)
Resources
Notes and References
- Information about FBI Agents in the Encarta Online Encyclopedia
Guide to FBI Agents
In this Section
Federal Bureau of Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation Structure, FBI Jurisdiction and Investigative Responsibilities, FBI Agents, Law Enforcement Services, FBI Law Enforcement Services (including FBI Fingerprint Identification, FBI Laboratory, FBI Criminal Profiling, FBI Police Training, National Crime Information Center and Crime Statistics), FBI History (including FBI Early Years, Hoover Reforms, FBI in the World War II and Postwar Era, FBI Antiradical Activities, FBI Reform, Ruby Ridge, FBI Under Freeh and September 11 Attacks), FBI and the Patriot Act and National Lawyers Guild.