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Special agent

February 06, 2023

For other uses, see Special agent (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Secret agent.
"Special Investigator" redirects here. For the 1936 film, see Special Investigator (film).

A special agent or federal agent is an investigator or detective for a governmental or independent agency, who primarily serves in criminal investigatory positions. Additionally, many federal and state special agents operate in "criminal intelligence" based roles as well. Within the U.S. federal law enforcement system, dozens of federal agencies employ federal law enforcement officers, each with different criteria pertaining to the use of the titles Special Agent and Agent.

In general, some agents are federal law enforcement officers and hold either arrest authority or the right to conduct minor criminal/non-criminal investigations. In some agencies, however, a special agent may have both criminal and non-criminal investigatory authority but still have no authority to conduct major criminal investigations.

Regardless, most people holding the title of "Special Agent" are law enforcement officers under state or federal law (with some also being dual intelligence operatives such as with the FBI). These law enforcement officers are distinctly empowered to conduct both major and minor criminal investigations, and hold arrest authority.

Additionally, most special agents are authorized to carry firearms both on and off duty due to their status as law enforcement officers. In US federal law enforcement, the title of "Special Agent" is used almost exclusively for federal and military criminal investigators.

Confusingly, in intelligence usage, "agent" also refers to a human source or human "asset" who is recruited, trained, controlled, and employed to obtain and report information.[1] 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).

Alternatively, some state and local government agencies within the United States title their criminal investigators as special investigators.[2][3]

Federal government

Within the U.S. government, the title of Special Agent primarily designates the Criminal Investigator GS-1811 series position.[4] 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.

  • 1811: Criminal Investigator (Primary Special Agent occupation within the federal government).
  • 1810: General Investigator
  • 0132: Intelligence

Federal agencies

Most federal agencies, including the following, employ some type of special agent, investigator or background investigator:

Training for the federal criminal 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 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 the United States.[6]

Criminal investigators and the use of the term Special Agent

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 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 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.[citation needed][7]

State, county, municipal, and tribal governments

The state of Maryland has criminal investigators who are employed by 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.[8][9]

In popular culture

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" (/ˈeɪsæk/) are stated frequently throughout the TV series Breaking Bad. For example, in Season 1 through Season 4, both Hank Schrader and 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 the job vacated by his ousted boss – repeatedly chants "ASAC Schrader" to his baby niece Holly.[citation needed]

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.[citation needed]

In the TV series Criminal Minds several of the Behavioral Analysis Unit members are Supervisory Special Agents.

In 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.[citation needed]

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" was the subject of radio programs in the 1940s and later TV and film productions.

See also

References

  1. ^ North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO Standardization Agency "AAP-6 - Glossary of terms and definitions", p. 47.
  2. ^ "Worcester County, MD: State's Attorney". Worcester County, MD Code. Retrieved 2021-12-26.
  3. ^ "View Document - Maryland Code and Court Rules". govt.westlaw.com. Retrieved 2021-12-26.
  4. ^ "Special Agent Blog". www.specialagents.org. Retrieved 2021-11-26.
  5. ^ "DLA Office of the Inspector General". www.dla.mil. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  6. ^ "Top Careers for Students of Criminology and Criminal Justice". Portland State University. Retrieved 2015-01-28.
  7. ^ "Department of Treasury". Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  8. ^ "View Document - Maryland Code and Court Rules". govt.westlaw.com. Retrieved 2021-12-26.
  9. ^ "Worcester County, MD: State's Attorney". Worcester County, MD Code. Retrieved 2021-12-26.

February 06, 2023
special, agent, other, uses, disambiguation, confused, with, secret, agent, special, investigator, redirects, here, 1936, film, special, investigator, film, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding. For other uses see Special agent disambiguation Not to be confused with Secret agent Special Investigator redirects here For the 1936 film see Special Investigator film This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Special agent news newspapers books scholar JSTOR April 2014 Learn how and when to remove this template message A special agent or federal agent is an investigator or detective for a governmental or independent agency who primarily serves in criminal investigatory positions Additionally many federal and state special agents operate in criminal intelligence based roles as well Within the U S federal law enforcement system dozens of federal agencies employ federal law enforcement officers each with different criteria pertaining to the use of the titles Special Agent and Agent In general some agents are federal law enforcement officers and hold either arrest authority or the right to conduct minor criminal non criminal investigations In some agencies however a special agent may have both criminal and non criminal investigatory authority but still have no authority to conduct major criminal investigations Regardless most people holding the title of Special Agent are law enforcement officers under state or federal law with some also being dual intelligence operatives such as with the FBI These law enforcement officers are distinctly empowered to conduct both major and minor criminal investigations and hold arrest authority Additionally most special agents are authorized to carry firearms both on and off duty due to their status as law enforcement officers In US federal law enforcement the title of Special Agent is used almost exclusively for federal and military criminal investigators Confusingly in intelligence usage agent also refers to a human source or human asset who is recruited trained controlled and employed to obtain and report information 1 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 Alternatively some state and local government agencies within the United States title their criminal investigators as special investigators 2 3 Contents 1 Federal government 1 1 Federal agencies 1 2 Training for the federal criminal investigator 1 3 Criminal investigators and the use of the term Special Agent 2 State county municipal and tribal governments 3 In popular culture 4 See also 5 ReferencesFederal government EditWithin the U S government the title of Special Agent primarily designates the Criminal Investigator GS 1811 series position 4 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 1811 Criminal Investigator Primary Special Agent occupation within the federal government 1810 General Investigator 0132 IntelligenceFederal agencies Edit Most federal agencies including the following employ some type of special agent investigator or background investigator Central Intelligence Agency CIA Office of Inspector General of the CIA Department of Agriculture USDA United States Forest Service Office of Law Enforcement and Investigations Office of Inspector General USDA OIG Department of Commerce USDOC National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA Office of Export Enforcement OEE Office of Inspector General DOC OIG Office of Security OSY Department of Defense DOD Air Force Office of Special Investigations AFOSI Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency DCSA Defense Intelligence Agency DIA Defense Logistics Agency Office of Inspector General DLA OIG 5 National Security Agency NSA Naval Criminal Investigative Service NCIS Office of Inspector General DOD OIG Defense Criminal Investigative Service DCIS Pentagon Force Protection Agency PFPA United States Army Counterintelligence Army CI United States Army Criminal Investigation Command USACIDC United States Marine Corps Criminal Investigation Division Marine CID Agent Department of Education ED Office of Inspector General ED OIG Department of Health and Human Services HHS Food and Drug Administration FDA FDA Office of Criminal Investigations OCI Office of Inspector General HHS OIG Department of Homeland Security DHS Coast Guard Investigative Service CGIS Citizenship and Immigration Services CIS Customs and Border Protection CBP Federal Protective Service FPS Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations ICE HSI Office of Inspector General DHS OIG Transportation Security Administration TSA United States Secret Service USSS Department of the Interior DOI Bureau of Indian Affairs Police BIA Bureau of Land Management BLM National Park Service NPS Office of Inspector General DOI OIG United States Fish and Wildlife Service USFWS United States Park Police USPP Department of Justice DOJ Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives ATF Drug Enforcement Administration DEA Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Federal Bureau of Prisons BOP Office of Inspector General DOJ OIG United States Marshals Service USMS Department of Energy DOE National Nuclear Security Administration Department of Labor Office of Inspector General DOL OIG Department of State Diplomatic Security Service DSS FS 2501 Office of Inspector General DOS OIG Department of Transportation DOT Federal Aviation Administration FAA Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration FMCSA Office of Inspector General for the Department of Transportation DOT OIG Department of the Treasury Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau TTB Bureau of Engraving and Printing Police Federal Reserve Board Police IRS Criminal Investigation IRS CI Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration TIGTA United States Mint Police Environmental Protection Agency EPA Criminal Investigation Division Office of Inspector General EPA OIG National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA Office of Inspector General Office of Protective Services Office of Personnel Management Office of Inspector General OPM OIG Postal Service USPS United States Postal Inspection Service USPIS not an Inspector General United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General USPS OIG Other All 73 federal Offices of Inspector General OIG including those listed individually aboveTraining for the federal criminal investigator Edit 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 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 the United States 6 Criminal investigators and the use of the term Special Agent Edit 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 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 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 citation needed 7 State county municipal and tribal governments EditThe state of Maryland has criminal investigators who are employed by 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 8 9 In popular culture EditSpecial 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 ae k are stated frequently throughout the TV series Breaking Bad For example in Season 1 through Season 4 both Hank Schrader and 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 the job vacated by his ousted boss repeatedly chants ASAC Schrader to his baby niece Holly citation needed 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 citation needed In the TV series Criminal Minds several of the Behavioral Analysis Unit members are Supervisory Special Agents In 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 citation needed 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 was the subject of radio programs in the 1940s and later TV and film productions See also Edit United States portalList of United States federal law enforcement agencies Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives Detective Diplomatic Security Service U S Department of State Drug Enforcement Administration Federal Bureau of Investigation Central Intelligence Agency Inspector Investigator disambiguation IRS Criminal Investigation Law enforcement agency Police rank Society of Former Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation State bureau of investigation State police U S Immigration and Customs Enforcement United States Marshals Service United States Secret Service Spy agentReferences Edit North Atlantic Treaty Organization NATO Standardization Agency AAP 6 Glossary of terms and definitions p 47 Worcester County MD State s Attorney Worcester County MD Code Retrieved 2021 12 26 View Document Maryland Code and Court Rules govt westlaw com Retrieved 2021 12 26 Special Agent Blog www specialagents org Retrieved 2021 11 26 DLA Office of the Inspector General www dla mil Retrieved 25 August 2017 Top Careers for Students of Criminology and Criminal Justice Portland State University Retrieved 2015 01 28 Department of Treasury Retrieved May 16 2020 View Document Maryland Code and Court Rules govt westlaw com Retrieved 2021 12 26 Worcester County MD State s Attorney Worcester County MD Code Retrieved 2021 12 26 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Special agent amp oldid 1123826651, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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