Federal Bureau of Investigation

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency. The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime. Its motto is "Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity", corresponding to the FBI initials.

The FBI's headquarters, the J. Edgar Hoover Building, is located in Washington, D.C. Fifty-six field offices are located in major cities throughout the United States as well as over 400 resident agencies in smaller cities and towns across the country. More than 50 international offices called "legal attachés" are in U.S. embassies worldwide.

In the fiscal year 2008, the FBI's total budget was approximately $6.8 billion, including $410 million in program increases to counter-terrorism, counter-intelligence, cybercrime, information, security, forensics, training, and criminal programs.

The FBI was established in 1908 as the Bureau of Investigation (BOI). Its name was changed to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in 1935.

The FBI's main goal is to protect and defend the United States against terrorist and foreign intelligence threats, to uphold and enforce the criminal laws of the United States, and to provide leadership and criminal justice services to federal, state, municipal, and international agencies and partners.

Currently, the FBI's top investigative priorities are:

1. Protect the United States from terrorist attack (see counter-terrorism);

2. Protect the United States against foreign intelligence operations and espionage (see counter-intelligence);

3. Protect the United States against cyber-based attacks and high-technology crimes (see cyber-warfare);

4. Combat public corruption at all levels;

5. Protect civil rights;

6. Combat transnational/national criminal organizations and enterprises (see organized crime);

7. Combat major white-collar crime;

8. Combat significant violent crime;

9. Upgrade technology for successful performance of the FBI's mission.

In August 2007, the top categories of lead criminal charges resulting from FBI investigations were:

1. Bank robbery and incidental crimes (107 charges)

2. Drugs (104 charges)

3. Attempt and conspiracy (81 charges)

4. Material involving sexual exploitation of minors (53 charges)

5. Mail fraud – frauds and swindles (51 charges)

6. Bank fraud (31 charges)

7. Prohibition of illegal gambling businesses (22 charges)

8. Fraud by wire, radio, or television (20 charges)

9. Hobbs Act (Robbery and extortion affecting interstate commerce) (17 charges)

10. Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO)-prohibited activities (17 charges)