Law enforcement agency facts for kids
A law enforcement agency (often called an LEA) is a government group that helps make sure laws are followed in a certain area. These groups have special officers, like police officers, who work to keep people safe and make sure everyone follows the rules. While the most common type of LEA is the police, there are many others. Some focus on specific types of laws, like those about taxes or borders. LEAs have special powers, like being able to arrest people or use force when needed, to do their job.
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Where Law Enforcement Agencies Work
Law enforcement agencies can only use their powers in certain places. This area is called their jurisdiction. Think of it as their official work zone.
Most of the time, a jurisdiction is a specific geographic area. For example, the National Police works all over France. The Ontario Provincial Police works only in Ontario, Canada. A city police department, like the Miami-Dade Police Department, works only in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. Sometimes, agencies like Europol work across many countries that are part of a group, like the European Union.
Sometimes, an agency's jurisdiction depends on the type of law that was broken. For instance, in the United States, the Postal Inspection Service mainly investigates crimes related to mail, like mail fraud. If they found something else, like tobacco smuggling, another agency like the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives might get involved. In other cases, an agency might step in if another agency asks for help. The Australian Federal Police, for example, can work anywhere in Australia. However, they usually handle big, complicated cases that other agencies ask them to look into.
In many countries, law enforcement can happen at different levels. The United States has five main levels:
- Federal: For crimes that affect the whole country.
- State: For crimes within a specific state.
- County: For crimes within a county.
- City/Municipality: For crimes within a city or town.
- Special: For specific areas like airports, trains, or tribal lands.
For example, the Chicago Police Department works in Chicago. The Cook County Sheriff's Office works in Cook County, but mostly outside of cities. The Illinois State Police patrols state highways across Illinois. These agencies can help each other if needed, especially higher-level agencies helping lower-level ones.
In some countries, national police forces also do direct policing. In Brazil, there are five federal police forces. The Federal Police of Brazil handles many types of crimes across the country. Others, like the Federal Highway Police, focus only on highways.
How Agencies Divide Their Work Areas
Often, a law enforcement agency will divide its large jurisdiction into smaller work areas. This helps them manage their work better. These smaller areas are sometimes called commands, divisions, or offices. People might also call them "beats."
Even if an agency has many operational areas, its officers usually have the legal power to work anywhere in the agency's main jurisdiction. However, they usually stick to their assigned area. For example, the United Kingdom's Metropolitan Police divides its work into 12 Basic Command Units, each covering a few London boroughs. The New York City Police Department is divided into 77 precincts.
Sometimes, more than one law enforcement agency covers the same legal area. This can be for practical reasons or because of history. In England and Wales, agencies called constabularies cover their own areas. They usually don't work outside their area without talking to other agencies first. The main difference between separate agencies and different parts of one agency is how easy it is to move resources around.
International and Multinational Agencies
There's a difference between international and multinational law enforcement agencies.
- An international law enforcement agency works in many countries and across borders. An example is Interpol.
- A multinational law enforcement agency usually works in only one country or part of a country. However, its staff come from several different countries. An example is the European Union Police Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
International agencies often help by sharing information between countries. They don't usually directly enforce laws in other countries.
Within a country, law enforcement agencies can be set up in different ways. Some cover the whole country, while others cover smaller parts.
Federal and National Agencies
When an agency's jurisdiction covers an entire country, it's usually either federal or national.
Federal Agencies
If a country has a federal system (like the United States or Canada, where states or provinces have their own governments), an agency for the whole country is called a federal law enforcement agency.
Federal agencies handle crimes that affect the whole country. This often includes:
- Crimes against the government.
- Immigration and border control.
- Investigating fake money.
- Policing airports and important national buildings.
- National security.
- Protecting the country's leader and other important people, like the U.S. Secret Service.
A federal police agency is a federal agency that also handles typical police duties like keeping social order and public safety. However, they usually don't do regular patrols at the local level.
Some examples of federal law enforcement agencies are:
- Argentine Federal Police (Argentina)
- Australian Federal Police (Australia)
- Federal Police of Brazil (Brazil)
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police (Canada)
- Bundespolizei (Germany)
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (United States)
Even in federal countries, law enforcement can be organized differently. Some, like Austria and Belgium, have a more unified approach. The United States has many different law enforcement agencies at all levels.
How Federal Agencies Work with States/Provinces
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In a federal country, there are usually separate law enforcement agencies for each state or province. A federal agency is mainly responsible for laws that affect the whole country.
Sometimes, federal officers can enforce state laws too, but usually only if the crime also has a federal connection. For example, the Australian Federal Police can enforce state laws, but they usually only do so if there's a federal part to the investigation.
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Serious crimes that cross state lines are often handled by federal agencies. In the United States, the FBI investigates all kidnapping cases, even if they don't cross state lines. Some countries use federal agencies to police land and buildings owned by the national government. For example, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security helps enforce laws on federal property.
Agencies from different jurisdictions often work together. They cooperate, share information, and form joint teams. Sometimes, officers working outside their usual area become special members of the local agency.
National Agencies
A national law enforcement agency is found in countries that don't have states or provinces that make their own laws. A national agency handles all the responsibilities that federal and state agencies would have in a federal country. These agencies are usually divided into smaller work areas.
To avoid confusion, some federal agencies, like the U.S. FBI, clearly state that they are not a national law enforcement agency.
A national police agency is a national agency that also handles typical police duties like keeping social order and public safety. Examples of countries with national police agencies include New Zealand, Italy, France, Japan, and the Netherlands.
State Law Enforcement Agencies
State police, provincial police, or regional police are agencies that work within a specific state, province, or region in a federal country. They have jurisdiction over their area and can work with city or national police.
Types of Law Enforcement Agencies
Agencies can be responsible for different things. Some enforce laws about people's behavior (like the New York City Police Department). Others focus on businesses (like the Australian Securities and Investments Commission). Some protect the country's interests (like the United Kingdom's His Majesty's Revenue and Customs, which handles taxes).
Religious Police
A law enforcement agency can enforce either secular (non-religious) laws or religious laws, like Sharia. Most agencies around the world are secular. However, in some places, like Saudi Arabia with its Mutaween or Iran with its Guidance Patrol, there are religious police. Their main job is to make sure people follow religious laws, which are often written down as official laws.
Internal Affairs
Many law enforcement agencies have a special team called "internal affairs." This team makes sure that the agency itself and its officers follow the laws. For example, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation has an Office of Professional Responsibility. In some places, there are completely separate agencies that investigate when law enforcement officers might have broken the law, like the New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption.
Police Agencies
Many law enforcement agencies are police agencies. They have a wide range of powers and responsibilities. Police agencies also often do things not directly related to enforcing laws, like keeping social order and public safety. Their jurisdiction for social order and public safety is usually the same as their jurisdiction for law enforcement.
Military Police
Military groups often have their own law enforcement units called military police. This can mean different things:
- A part of the military that only polices the armed forces (sometimes called provosts).
- A separate part of the military that polices both the armed forces and the defense ministry (like the Żandarmeria Wojskowa in Poland).
- A part of the military that polices civilians (like the Romanian Gendarmerie).
- Police with military status that prevent crime (like the Brazilian Military Police).
The exact meaning of "military police" changes from country to country.
Law enforcement agencies that are not part of the military are sometimes called civilian police. This term is used when you need to tell them apart from military police. However, civilian police can still have a military-like structure.
In most countries, "law enforcement agency" includes more than just police. In the United States, it can also include agencies that have "peace officer" status or that bring criminal charges against people. A county prosecutor or district attorney is often seen as the top law enforcement officer in a county.
Other Types of Agencies
Other law enforcement agencies have duties like helping people avoid breaking laws, keeping them safe, or helping after a dangerous event. For example:
- Policing: Keeping social order, mediating public problems, preventing bad behavior, and managing crowds.
- Public Safety: General search and rescue.
- Regulation: Making sure rules are followed.
- Services: Helping identify victims after disasters.
- Education: Running campaigns to teach people about avoiding crime, following laws, and staying safe.
Many agencies, like customs or tax agencies, also have administrative duties. Their main job might be to provide services that help people follow laws.
Private Police
Private police are law enforcement groups owned or controlled by non-government companies or people. They are often used where public police might not be enough. For example, the San Francisco Patrol Special Police was created to increase safety in San Francisco during the California gold rush. They still exist today to protect private clients.
Railroad Police
In Canada and the United States, many railroad companies have their own private railroad police. Examples include the BNSF Police Department and the Union Pacific Police Department. Some, like the Canadian National Police Service, work in both countries.
Regulatory Agencies
Many law enforcement agencies also monitor or apply rules and codes of conduct. For example, they might check if buildings follow safety codes. While monitoring rules isn't always called "law enforcement," if someone keeps breaking rules, they might lose a license to operate. Operating without a license is usually illegal. Also, not following safety codes can be dangerous and illegal.
How Agencies Are Created
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Usually, a law enforcement agency is created by the government it supports. The people who work for the agency are citizens of that country or area.
Sometimes, a state or local area won't create its own law enforcement agency. Instead, it will make a deal with another agency, usually from the same country, to provide law enforcement. For example, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is a federal agency. Many Canadian provinces and cities hire the RCMP to police them. This helps reduce the number of different agencies working in the same area.
If a country or region can't create its own stable police force, it might ask other countries for help. For example, the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands had a police force that worked with the Solomon Islands Police Force. The United Nations might also create a law enforcement agency, as it did in Timor-Leste from 1999 to 2002. The United Nations Police also helps with law enforcement during UN peacekeeping missions.
Powers and Special Permissions
To help law enforcement agencies prevent, find, and investigate when laws are broken, they are given special powers that regular people don't have. These powers usually include:
- Collecting information about people in their area.
- Searching for information and evidence related to broken laws.
- Taking evidence of broken laws.
- Taking property and money from people.
- Asking people to provide information about broken laws.
- Arresting and holding people (taking away their freedom) for suspected lawbreaking.
- Legally deceiving people.
These powers are only for law enforcement agencies and are usually checked by judges or other officials.
Most of the time, these powers are only allowed if there's a good reason to believe someone has broken a law. For example, to search someone's home, an agency usually has to explain to a judge why they need to search. If the judge agrees, they issue a legal document called a search warrant. This warrant must be shown to the person if possible.
Legal Deception and Special Permissions
People who break laws often try to avoid being caught. To find and investigate them, law enforcement agencies sometimes need to work secretly. This might mean they have to do things that would normally be against the law for others. To allow them to do this, they are given special legal permission for secret activities. These secret activities are often called covert operations.
To deceive someone and carry out their work, an agency might be legally allowed to secretly:
- Create and use fake identities or organizations. This is called undercover work or using assumed identities.
- Allow and help move illegal items, sometimes swapping them with harmless materials. This is called controlled operations.
- Listen to and copy conversations between people. This is called telecommunications interception or wiretapping if it's electronic.
- Secretly watch, listen to, and track people. This is called technical operations.
These secret activities are usually done to gather information and evidence about lawbreaking and find other people involved.
Legal deception and special permissions for law enforcement agencies are usually watched very closely by judges or public officials. For example, the Australian Federal Police's controlled operations are reviewed by the Parliament of Australia.
Other Special Permissions
Law enforcement agencies have other special permissions to help them do their job. For example, many places have laws that stop animals from entering certain areas for health reasons. Agencies are usually allowed to bring dogs for search and rescue, finding explosives, or chasing suspects. This kind of permission isn't just for law enforcement; guide dogs are also allowed in places where other animals are not. Law enforcement officers may also be allowed to carry firearms where civilians cannot, break some traffic laws during emergencies, or hold people against their will.
Interpol is an international organization that doesn't belong to one country. However, it needs a physical office. Interpol is protected from certain laws of the country where its office is located.
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