Special agent facts for kids
In the United States, a special agent is a detective or investigator who investigates suspected violations of federal, state or local laws. Special agents may also carry firearms and make arrests. Special agents work for many different law enforcement agencies. In some agencies, only special agents may carry firearms. An example is special agents in the Internal Revenue Service. To become special agents most applicants must pass written and physical examinations. In the FBI, like many agencies, applicants must go through a background check.
History
Congress was the first to use the title in 1801 when they changed the name of U.S.Post office "surveyors" to "special agents". In 1880, the U.S. Congress created the position of "Chief Postal Inspector" and renamed these special agents to postal inspectors.
Agencies
The following US federal agencies use special agents:
- United States Department of Agriculture
- United States Department of Commerce
- United States Department of Health and Human Services
- United States Department of the Interior
- United States Department of Homeland Security
- Coast Guard Investigative Service
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- United States Secret Service
- United States Department of the Interior
- United States Department of Defense
- United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations
- United States Army Criminal Investigation Command
- Naval Criminal Investigative Service
- United States Department of Justice
- United States Department of State
- United States Department of Transportation
- United States Department of the Treasury
- United States Postal Service
- United States Environmental Protection Agency
See also
In Spanish: Agente especial para niños
