United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
The United States Department of Justice Criminal Division is a federal agency of the United States Department of Justice that develops, enforces, and supervises the application of all federal criminal laws in the United States. Criminal Division attorneys prosecute many nationally significant cases and formulate and implement criminal enforcement policy. Division attorneys also provide advice and guidance to the Attorney General of the United States, the United States Congress, and the White House on matters of criminal law. The Division was founded in 1919.[1]
Leadership
The Criminal Division is headed by an Assistant Attorney General, appointed by the President of the United States with the advice and consent of the Senate.[2] Nicholas McQuaid has served as Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division since January 20, 2021.[3]
Organization
The Criminal Division is headed by an Assistant Attorney General, who is a political appointee. The Assistant Attorney General is assisted by six Deputy Assistant Attorneys General, who are career attorneys, who each oversee two or more of the Criminal Division's 16 sections.[4]
- Deputy Assistant Attorney General
- Public Integrity Section created after Watergate in 1976[5]
- Office of Enforcement Operations
- Deputy Assistant Attorney General
- Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section
- Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section
- Deputy Assistant Attorney General
- Office of International Affairs
- International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program formed in 1990[5]
- Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development Assistance and Training
- Deputy Assistant Attorney General
- Fraud Section established in 1955[5]
- Appellate Section
- Deputy Assistant Attorney General
- Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section formed in 1996[5]
- Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Created in 1987,[5] the section comprises approximately 15 attorneys who prosecute defendants who have violated federal child exploitation and obscenity laws and also assist the 93 United States Attorney Offices in investigations, trials, and appeals related to these offenses. The section also has a number of Computer Forensic Specialist (CFS) within the High Technology Investigative Unit (HTIU) and, under the direction of a section manager, they conduct analysis of Internet technologies used to distribute obscene materials and child pornography.
- Deputy Assistant Attorney General
- Capital Case Section
- Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section
- Organized Crime and Gang Section
- Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General
- Chief of Staff and Counselor to the Assistant Attorney General
- Office of Administration
- Office of Policy and Legislation
The Division does not supervise the 94 U.S. Attorney's Offices.[5]
Reorganization
The Criminal Division's Counterterrorism and Counterespionage Sections were transferred to the newly-created United States Department of Justice National Security Division in 2006.[1]
See also
- National Child Victim Identification Program
- Obscenity Prosecution Task Force
- Operation Protect Our Children
References
- ^ a b "History - Criminal Division". www.justice.gov. U.S. Department of Justice. July 25, 2019. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
- ^ 28 U.S.C. § 506
- ^ "Senate Confirms Kirkland Atty As DOJ Criminal Division Head". www.law360.com. July 11, 2018. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
- ^ Loretta Lynch (August 29, 2016). "Organizational Chart | CRIMINAL Division | Department of Justice". www.justice.gov. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f "Remarks by Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski at the Criminal Division's 100th Anniversary Celebration". www.justice.gov. July 19, 2019. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
External links
- Official website
- Detailed description of each of the 16 sections (17 September 2019)