Department of Justice The U S Department of

Department of Justice

The U. S. Department of Justice is the one department that is not headed by a 'secretary. ' The Attorney-General of the United States is it’s leader. Eric Holder currently holds that title. The department had two major functions:

The department had two major functions: ONE. Law Enforcement: The Attorney-General is sometimes called the nation's 'Top Cop. ' With in the Justice Dept. are many law enforcement organizations. TWO: Represents the interests of the USA in legal proceedings, both criminal, by Federal Prosecutors, and in non-criminal cases (civil cases), by U. S. Attorneys. The chief 'lawyer' in the department is The U. S. Solicitor General who argues cases on behalf of the Government in front of the Supreme Court when the federal government is involved in a case.

Dept. of Justice Law Enforcement Agencies: 1. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) investigates and prevents of federal offenses involving the unlawful use, manufacture, and possession of firearms and explosives, acts of arson and bombings, and illegal trafficking of alcohol and tobacco products. 2. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is tasked with combating drug smuggling and use within the U. S. 3. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the primary investigative arm of the United States Department of Justice 4. Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) s responsible for the administration of the federal prison system. 5. United States Marshals Service is the oldest federal law enforcement agency in the US. It protects federal courts and ensures the effective operation of the judicial system.