What kind of crimes does FBI investigate?

Asked by: Lenore Feil  |  Last update: May 24, 2026
Score: 5/5 (58 votes)

The FBI investigates a broad range of federal crimes, focusing on national security threats like terrorism, espionage, and cybercrime, alongside major domestic issues like public corruption, civil rights violations, transnational organized crime, and significant white-collar crimes, including major financial fraud, and serious violent crimes like those involving gangs or crimes against children. They act as the lead agency for many of these complex, multi-jurisdictional threats, working with other law enforcement partners.

What crimes can the FBI investigate?

What We Investigate

  • Terrorism.
  • Counterintelligence and Espionage.
  • Cyber.
  • Public Corruption.
  • Civil Rights.
  • Transnational Organized Crime.
  • White-Collar Crime.
  • Violent Crime.

At what point does the FBI get involved in an investigation?

The most obvious scenario prompting FBI involvement is when an alleged crime violates established federal criminal laws and statutes. A few common examples: Drug trafficking across state lines or international borders. Bank fraud against federally-insured institutions.

What are the 8 major crimes?

The "8 major crimes," also known as Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Index crimes, are serious offenses tracked by the FBI, comprising violent crimes (Murder/Nonnegligent Manslaughter, Forcible Rape, Robbery, Aggravated Assault) and property crimes (Burglary, Larceny-Theft, Motor Vehicle Theft, and Arson). These crimes are used to gauge overall crime volume in the U.S., with Arson added in 1979 to the original seven. 

Who are the 10 most wanted by FBI?

Most Wanted

  • BRANDON JAMES THOMAS.
  • MARY CAROLE MCDONNELL.
  • OLUMIDE ADEBIYI ADEDIRAN.
  • ELAINE ANGENE ESCOE.
  • ROSCOE MCMILLAN.
  • HORST COSTA JICHA.
  • ROMAN SEMENOV.
  • DARREN ANTHONY ROBINSON.

What Crimes Do The FBI Investigate? - CountyOffice.org

37 related questions found

Who is the number one most wanted person in America?

Despite occasional references in the media, the FBI does not rank their list; no suspect is considered "#1 on the FBI's Most Wanted List" or "The Most Wanted". The list is commonly posted in public places such as post offices.

What powers does the FBI have?

The FBI has authority to investigate all federal crime not assigned exclusively to another federal agency (28 U.S.C. §533). It also provides criminal justice services to federal, state, municipal, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies and partners. combating significant violent crime.

What is considered a federal crime?

Federal crimes are offenses that specifically violate U.S. federal laws. Federal offenses are prosecuted by government agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and can oftentimes carry penalties that are far more severe than those levied by state courts.

What crimes are considered serious?

What is Serious Violence?

  • Aggravated Burglary.
  • Homicide.
  • Serious Sexual Offences.
  • Robbery.
  • Violence Against the Person. (further categorised by 'violence with injury' and 'violence without injury')

What are 19 crimes?

19 Crimes, released in 2012 and housed by Melbourne-based Treasury Wine Estates, refers to the number of crimes used to exile convicts from Britain to Australia between 1787 and 1868.

What makes the feds pick up a case?

The Feds pick up a case when a crime violates federal law, crosses state lines, involves federal property, impacts interstate commerce (like major drug trafficking or fraud), or falls under the priority of federal agencies (like civil rights, terrorism, or complex financial crimes). They get involved when state prosecution is insufficient, the scale is large, or there's a significant federal interest, often triggered by reports or information gathered by federal bodies like the FBI, DEA, or CIA. 

How long do FBI investigations usually take?

They typically last weeks or months, and even years for the more complex and complicated cases. In fact, the investigations can last for the length of time of the statute of limitations. For most federal cases, the statute of limitations is five years.

Who has more power, FBI or CIA?

The CIA is an intelligence agency that gathers, analyzes, and disseminates information. It often conducts covert operations, such as espionage, sabotage, and influence campaigns. However, it does not have arrest powers like the police. The FBI is both a law enforcement and intelligence agency.

Why would the FBI investigate you?

In most cases, a federal investigation is triggered by the filing of a credible crime report. Sometimes, it may also commence as a result of information law enforcement agents receive from defendants in pending criminal cases who are hoping to receive leniency (i.e., cooperators).

Can you look up FBI investigations?

FBI records can be requested through both the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Privacy Act. Please read this page carefully to ensure you are making the correct request.

Are FBI higher than police?

No. State and local law enforcement agencies are not subordinate to the FBI, and the FBI does not supervise or take over their investigations. Instead, the investigative resources of the FBI and state and local agencies are often pooled in a common effort to investigate and solve the cases.

What are the hardest crimes to prove?

Top 5 Hardest Criminal Charges to Beat

  • First-degree Murder.
  • Sexual Assault.
  • Drug Trafficking.
  • White-collar Fraud.
  • Repeat DUI Offenses.
  • DNA Evidence.
  • Digital Forensics.
  • Ballistics and Weapon Analysis.

What are the 8 focused crimes?

"8 focus crime" refers to the eight specific, serious crimes monitored by the Philippine National Police (PNP): murder, homicide, physical injury, rape, robbery, theft, carnapping (four-wheeled vehicles), and motorcycle theft, used for tracking crime trends and evaluating police performance, with recent reports showing declines in these offenses due to intensified efforts. 

What are the 10 types of common crimes?

Ten common crimes include theft/larceny, burglary, motor vehicle theft, assault, robbery, DUI/DWI, domestic violence, drug offenses, fraud/identity theft, and vandalism, with property crimes like theft being far more frequent than violent ones, according to U.S. data.
 

What's the worst charge you can get?

The most severe criminal charge that anybody may face is first-degree murder. Although all murder charges are serious, first-degree murder carries the worst punishments. This is because it entails premeditation, which means the defendant is accused of pre-planning their victim's death.

What are the 5 types of crimes?

Five common types of crime include Violent Crimes, Property Crimes, White-Collar Crimes, Organized Crimes, and Cybercrimes, covering offenses from physical harm and theft to financial fraud, large-scale criminal enterprises, and computer-based offenses, though other categorizations exist like public order or victimless crimes.
 

What determines if a case goes federal?

In these cases, prosecutors decide whether the case stays in state court or moves to federal court. Factors like the scale of the crime, the number of people involved, or whether the offense crossed state borders can push the case into the federal system.

Who's higher than the FBI?

Within the U.S. Department of Justice, the FBI is responsible to the attorney general, and it reports its findings to U.S. Attorneys across the country. The FBI's intelligence activities are overseen by the Director of National Intelligence.

What is a color of law violation?

Acts under "color of any law" include acts not only done by federal, state, or local officials within the bounds or limits of their lawful authority, but also acts done without and beyond the bounds of their lawful authority; provided that, in order for unlawful acts of any official to be done under "color of any law," ...

How does the FBI choose cases?

In general, the FBI will become involved in a local law enforcement investigation or prosecution when an alleged offense falls under federal jurisdiction, when a crime is committed on federal property, when local law enforcement agencies request assistance, or when multiple jurisdictions are involved.