In the United States , a special agent is an official title used to refer to certain investigators or detectives of federal, military, tribal, or state agencies who primarily serve in criminal investigatory positions. Additionally, some special agents operate in criminal intelligence , counterterrorism , or counterintelligence -based roles as well, with one or all of these roles occasionally taking precedence over criminal investigatory tasks.
26-526: Within the U.S. federal law enforcement system , dozens of federal agencies employ federal law enforcement officers (LEOs), each with different criteria pertaining to the use of the titles special agent and agent . Most criminal investigators employed by the U.S. Department of Defense and its component departments typically utilize the title of "special agent." Most people holding the title of "special agent" are LEOs under state and/or federal law (with some also being dual intelligence operatives such as with
52-513: A few. They must also be physically fit. While possession of a college degree can aid in obtaining employment in this profession, only extensive training provided at specialized facilities, combined with on-the-job training, can provide the skills and knowledge needed to perform the duties of a federal criminal investigator. As of 2012, there were 13,913 FBI agents, as of 2016, there were approximately 6,500 ICE-Homeland Security investigations (HSI) agents, and as of 2011, there were 4,890 DEA agents in
78-410: A human source or human "asset" who is recruited, trained, controlled, and employed to obtain and report information. However, within law enforcement agencies, these types of sources are often referred to as informants , confidential informants (CI—not to be confused with counterintelligence), or confidential human sources (CHS). Within the U.S. government, the title of Special Agent primarily designates
104-463: Is an agency of the government of the State of Washington , founded in 1973 as the state's gaming control board , which is responsible for enforcing gambling laws and regulations. This organization is the second oldest national agency of such a type. The director of Washington State Gambling Commission is Tina Griffin, who has been the director since 2022. This Washington -related article
130-652: Is more than two hundred years old. For example, the Postal Inspection Service can trace its origins back to 1772, while the U.S. Marshals Service dates to 1789. Other agencies, such as the FBI , are relatively recent, being founded in the early twentieth century. Other agencies have been reformed, such as the ATF which was formed only in 1972, but had its origins in 1886. Some federal law enforcement agencies have been formed after mergers of other agencies, over
156-624: The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), the Arkansas State Police (ASP) Criminal Investigations Division and many others. These agencies may be a part of a State Bureau of Investigation (which is usually a part of an Attorney General's Office or a state level Government Department) or a State Police Agency (which is again itself a part of a state Department of Public Safety or a Department of Justice ). Also, Maryland has criminal investigators who are employed by
182-421: The FBI ). These LEOs are distinctly empowered to conduct both major and minor criminal investigations, and hold arrest authority. While not all federal LEOs are "special agents," nearly all special agents -- with very few exceptions -- are duly-sworn LEOs. This holds true at the state-level, as well, with nearly all special agents of state agencies being sworn LEOs. In intelligence usage, "agent" may also refer to
208-680: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), and others. However, the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) became the department with the most sworn armed Federal law enforcement officers and agents upon its creation in 2002 in response to
234-599: The September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks when it incorporated agencies seen as having roles in protecting the country against terrorism. This included large agencies such as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Secret Service (USSS), the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) (created by combining
260-565: The Army’s Criminal Investigation Division . Different federal law enforcement authorities have authority under different parts of the United States Code (U.S.C.). Most are limited by the U.S. Code to investigating matters that are explicitly within the power of the federal government. There are exceptions, with some agencies and officials enforcing codes of U.S. states and tribes of Native Americans in
286-647: The Criminal Investigator GS-1811 series position. However, the title is also concurrently used for General Investigator GS-1810 job series and the intelligence specialist in the GS-0132 job series according to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) handbook. The vast majority of special agents are GS-1811 (or equivalent) Criminal Investigators. Special agents typically have at a minimum an undergraduate degree. Most federal agencies, including
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#1732775466436312-962: The North Carolina Bureau of Investigations (NCSBI), the Kentucky Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI), the Washington State Gambling Commission , many agencies inside the California Department of Justice such as the California Bureau of Investigation , the California Bureau of Firearms , the California Bureau of Gambling Control , the California Bureau of Forensic Services and the California Bureau of Medi-Cal Fraud & Elder Abuse,
338-567: The TV series Breaking Bad . For example, in Season 1 through Season 4 , both DEA Special Agent Hank Schrader and local entrepreneur Gus Fring are shown to be friendly with Hank's boss, ASAC George Merkert , and in Season 4 Episode 12 " End Times ", Steve Gomez tells Dennis the "ASAC" is being pressured to search Gus's laundry for drugs. In Season 5, Hank – who is proud to have been promoted to
364-662: The TV series The X-Files , the title "Special Agent" is given to both Fox Mulder and Dana Scully of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The title is referenced by them numerous times throughout each episode. The main character from the TV series Twin Peaks , is FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper , and also, other FBI special agents make numerous cameos throughout the series, and its prequel movie, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me . " Dick Barton - Special Agent"
390-577: The U.S. Postal Inspection Service are called postal inspectors. These inspectors were originally called surveyors and received a title change in 1801 to Special Agent. In 1880, the U.S. Congress created the position of Chief Postal Inspector and renamed these special agents to postal inspectors. The first special agents in the United States were appointed in 1791 when the Secretary of the Treasury
416-557: The United States The federal government of the United States empowers a wide range of federal law enforcement agencies (informally known as the "Feds") to maintain law and public order related to matters affecting the country as a whole. While the majority of federal law enforcement employees work for the Department of Justice and Homeland Security , there are dozens of other federal law enforcement agencies under
442-626: The United States . Some federal investigative powers have become broader in practice, especially since the passage of the Patriot Act in October 2001. The United States Department of Justice was formerly the largest and is still the most prominent, collection of federal law enforcement agencies. It has handled most law enforcement duties at the federal level and includes the United States Marshals Service (USMS),
468-438: The United States. Not all federal criminal investigators are called special agents. Some federal agencies entitle their investigators as criminal investigators but use the term interchangeably with special agent. Other federal agencies use different titles for the same 1811 criminal investigative job series. Series 1811 criminal investigators for the U.S. Marshals are entitled Deputy Marshals. Series 1811 criminal investigators for
494-529: The following, employ some type of special agent, investigator or background investigator: Federal law enforcement training can be divided into various categories, the most common being basic, agency-specific basic (ASB), advanced/specialized, and agency-advanced/specialized. To operate safely and effectively, U.S. Special Agents and criminal investigators must possess skills and knowledge regarding criminal and civil law and procedure, enforcement operations, physical techniques, and technical equipment, to mention
520-578: The former agencies of the United States Border Patrol , United States Customs Service , and the United States Department of Agriculture 's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) into a single agency within the DHS). Agencies in bold text are law enforcement agencies (LEAs). Independent Agencies and federally-administered institutions; Washington State Gambling Commission The Washington State Gambling Commission
546-648: The job vacated by his ousted boss – repeatedly chants "ASAC Schrader" to his baby niece Holly . In the TV series White Collar , Peter Burke is the "Special Agent in Charge" (promoted from assistant Special Agent in Charge at the end of Season 6) and the head of the Manhattan White Collar Division. In the TV series Criminal Minds several of the Behavioral Analysis Unit members are Supervisory Special Agents. In
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#1732775466436572-465: The other executive departments, as well as under the legislative and judicial branches of the federal government. Federal agencies employ approximately 137,000 full-time personnel authorized to make arrests and/or carry firearms in the 50 states and the District of Columbia, out of the more than 800,000 law enforcement officers in the United States . Federal law enforcement in the United States
598-534: The state attorney. These investigators are called special investigators . As with special agents, these special investigators are authorized to conduct investigations, make arrests, carry firearms or other weapons, and carry a metallic badge. Special agents, particularly those within the FBI, have been depicted in popular entertainment for years. The title "Assistant Special Agent in Charge" and its acronym "ASAC" ( / ˈ eɪ s æ k / ) are stated frequently throughout
624-612: The years. This includes the CBP , ATF , and the DEA . Military law enforcement, although federal, consists of both military personnel and civilian officers. For example, " DoD Police " refers to any civilian engaged in police duties for the DoD or the US Armed Forces . Each branch also has a law enforcement agency responsible for the investigation of more serious crimes and incidents, such as
650-606: Was authorized to employ "Special Agents" for the purpose of examining the accounts and books of the Collectors of Customs. The position of Special Treasury Agent was created, and until 1860 submitted reports to the Department of Treasury , through the Collectors of Customs in the Customs District in which they were employed. The terms 'special agent' and 'agent' are also used by various specialized state level law enforcement agencies to refer to their officers, including
676-417: Was the subject of radio programs in the 1940s and later TV and film productions. In the TV series NCIS the character Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo constantly introduces himself as "Very Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo" in an attempt to be charming. In the TV series Mr. Robot the character Dominique "Dom" DiPierro, the FBI "ASAC", appeared in the final three seasons. Federal law enforcement in
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