The Vision, Purpose and History of the Department of Justice

Public safety and national security are two issues of great concern to the American people. However, the public often overlooks the hard work put in by various branches, organizations and individuals in order to make both objectives a reality.  To gain a better perspective, we will look to the heart of justice and security in America: The Department of Justice.

The United States Department of Justice works to protect the citizens of America against threats to their personal safety. The Justice Department was officially created as an agency under the supervision of the United States Attorney General shortly after the American Civil War.  The origins of the department, however, stretch back many years earlier.  The position of Attorney General came into existence as a part of the Judiciary Act of 1789.  The Attorney Genera's original responsibilities were to advise both the President and the U.S. Congress on legal matters pertinent to the operations of the United States government.  By 1819, however, the tasks assigned to the office of the U.S. Attorney General had become too excessive for the office to handle the day-to-day activities of advising both of these government branches. 

Following a failed attempt in 1868 by U.S. Congressman William Lawrence to establish a new Department of Justice, a bill called the Act to Establish the Department of Justice was introduced in 1870 by Congressman Thomas Jenckes of Rhode Island.  After the bill successfully passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, it was signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on June 22, 1870, commencing its initial operations on July 1 of the following month.  Even though the responsibilities of the Attorney General did not change, the bill created the new office of Solicitor General in order to oversee and organize legal matters within the United States Supreme Court.  The Department of Justice was granted control over federal law enforcement, criminal prosecutions and civil suits of significance to the United States.  Over the years, the department has seen the formation of divisions and the addition of the Deputy Attorney Genera's Office. However, the department still rests on the foundations established in 1870.

Currently, the Justice Department contains six different divisions: the Antitrust Division, the Civil Division, the Civil Rights Division, the Criminal Division, the Environment and Natural Resources Division and the Tax Division. Within these divisions, the Department of Justice is also comprised of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Prisons; the United States Marshals Service; the U.S. Central Bureau–International Criminal Police Organization; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and the Office of Justice Programs.

All of these departments, according to the official Web site for the White House, work together in order to "protect our Nation through its efforts to fight terrorism, thwart espionage by foreign powers, and capture, prosecute, and imprison those who break Federal criminal laws."  In regard to helping to prevent terrorist attacks against American citizens, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) remains at the forefront of the Justice Department's assault on terrorism.  The newly formed National Security Division (NSD), however, has also helped to enhance the powers of the Criminal Division to battle terrorism abroad and within the United States. 

Nevertheless, the authority of the Justice Department is not limited solely to the effort of eliminating terrorist attacks.  In addition to fighting terrorism, the Department of Justice also aims to enhance its capabilities in the following areas:

1. reducing violent crime in particular areas of the United States that have witnessed a recent rise in criminal activity,
2. preventing the distribution of illegal drugs and disrupting organized crime organizations throughout the nation,
3. protecting America's children from injustices such as child prostitution, child pornography, sexual abuse and overall child safety, and
4. augmenting the effectiveness of the federal prison system, including the enhancement of rehabilitation programs and the construction of new incarceration facilities.

As a result of the constantly expanding battle against criminals and terrorists inside and outside of the nation's borders, the Department of Justice is always in search of qualified individuals to safeguard the population of the United States.  There are several different ways to gain employment into the Justice Department, including through an expanding selection of online programs designed to assist potential applicants in meeting the requirements necessary to become a professional in law enforcement and criminal justice.

So why should an individual consider entering the workforce as part of the Department of Justice?  Any American citizen who is concerned with protecting his or her fellow citizens may have the capacity to gain employment with the Justice Department by earning a degree in criminal justice. Aside from possessing a desire to aid and protect American civilians, applicants to the Department of Justice must meet certain physical and mental requirements pertinent to their position within the agency. 

Nevertheless, as previously mentioned, due to the ever-present threat from domestic and international terrorism, the Department of Justice is constantly looking for talented individuals to add to its employee roster.  In addition to traditional four-year academic programs, there are also numerous opportunities to earn a degree in criminal justice through online programs that can afford students more flexibility in their daily schedules.  Enrolling in an online criminal justice program can also enable individuals with financial constraints to help safeguard the interests of American society.  The United States faces a growing number of threats to its security, increasing the need for continual action from newly trained, innovative thinkers who will assist in defending the nation in the future. 

If you want to help make America safe, then a career in criminal justice may be the right choice.  Learn more now about earning your degree in criminal justice online!