Following Congressional hearings and media reports criticizing the FBI’s domestic surveillance activities, in 1976, Attorney General [AG] EDWARD LEVI, U.S. Department of Justice [USDOJ] issued the Attorney General Guidelines for the FBI and other law enforcement agencies responsible for conducting federal criminal investigations. Generally speaking, the Attorney General Guidelines make clear when the FBI can initiate a criminal investigation and collect certain intelligence, conduct undercover operations, use a confidential informant, and/or monitor/record consensual conversations.
Under the General Crimes and Racketeering/Terrorism section, the Attorney General Guidelines indicate the FBI can initiate/pursue a full field inquiry when circumstances “reasonably” indicate a federal crime has or might be committed. The Guidelines also require sensitive criminal investigations be brought to the attention of the U.S. Attorney and authorize intelligence investigations for the purposes of identifying criminal enterprises and their capacity to do harm. While Racketeering Enterprise Investigations [REIs] typically concern Organize Crime, Terrorism Enterprise Investigations [TEIs] generally seek to identify organizations pursuing a political or social agenda using physical violence or force.
In the Confidential Informant’s section, the Attorney General Guidelines set forth procedures wherein informants must be scrutinized for “suitability;” are warned about the limits of their authority; and can be authorized to engage in otherwise illegal activity. In the event an informant engages in “unauthorized” illegal activity,” the Guidelines specify violations must be promptly reported to both FBIHQ and the Department of Justice. And in the event an informant is deactivated—whether for cause or some other reason—the deactivation must be properly reported, with any authority permitting the informant to engage in otherwise illegal activity revoked.
In the Undercover Operation’s section, the Attorney General Guidelines mandate—prior to any operation being initiated—both FBI and USDOJ officials must address: 1.] agent safety; 2.] damage caused to public institutions [because of an undercover operation]; 3.] injury to a target’s reputation; 4.] defense strategies including “entrapment and outrageous government” conduct claims; and 5.] damage to third parties, including financial loss and/or criminal victimization caused by the Bureau’s generation of a crime.
If you’re looking for a Private Investigator with a background concerning the Attorney General Guidelines, he suggests you make contact with him so that you can discuss your case.
