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9. A FBI Organizational Structure and Investigative Jurisdiction

Organizational Structure and Budget: The FBI is a field-oriented organization in which nine divisions and three offices at FBI headquarters (FBIHQ) in Washington, D.C., provide program direction and support services to 56 field offices, approximately 400 satellite offices known as resident agencies, four specialized field installations, and 23 foreign liaison posts. The foreign liaison offices, each of which is headed by a Legal Attache or Legal Liaison Officer, work abroad with American and local authorities on criminal matters within FBI jurisdiction.

The FBI has approximately 10,100 Special Agents and 13,700 other employees who perform professional, administrative, technical, clerical, craft, trade, or maintenance operations. Approximately 7,300 employees are assigned to FBIHQ, approximately 16,000 are assigned to field installations.

The FBI's total annual funding for all operations, salaries, and expenses is approximately $2.2 billion.

Investigative Jurisdiction of the FBI: The FBI's investigative authority is the broadest of all federal law enforcement agencies. Therefore, it has adopted a strategic approach which stresses long-term, complex investigations. The FBI's investigative philosophy also emphasizes close relations and information sharing with other federal, state, local and international law enforcement and intelligence agencies. A significant number of FBI investigations are conducted in concert with other law enforcement agencies or as part of joint task forces.

The FBI has divided its investigations into seven programs:
  1. Applicant Matters
  2. Civil Rights
  3. Counterterrorism
  4. Foreign Counterintelligence
  5. Organized Crime/Drugs
  6. Violent Crimes and Major Offenders
  7. Financial Crime
These programs represent the FBI's responsibility as assigned by law. Individual cases in a particular program may receive extensive investigative attention because of their size, potential impact, or sensitivity.

Investigations are conducted within the Attorney General's Guidelines which pertain to racketeering enterprises, general criminal investigations, undercover operations, criminal information matters, extraterritorial investigations, and domestic security/terrorism matters. The Guidelines afford centralized direction, which allows for greater uniformity and control of national and international law enforcement efforts.

Some sensitive investigative methods, such as undercover activities and electronic surveillance, are subject to specific review and approval procedures.

[cited in USAM 1-2.303