Department of Justice

What Visitors Should Know

Learn how the Department of Justice works, what public-facing services, records, or data it provides, and where visitors can verify official source links.

The Department of Justice serves as the federal government’s chief law-enforcement and legal department, prosecuting federal crimes, representing the United States in court, enforcing civil-rights and antitrust laws, and overseeing major law-enforcement components. This profile explains the agency in practical terms: what it is responsible for, how people may encounter it, and which public-facing records or services matter most.

Visitors may use DOJ sources to report federal crimes, find civil-rights information, review court filings or enforcement actions, locate grants, understand law-enforcement programs, or reach the right component. Use Justice.gov, component websites, official press releases, court records, Federal Register notices, grant records, and Act, the federal law that lets the public request many agency records.">FOIA channels to verify legal actions, public guidance, and reporting routes. When legal precision, benefits, applications, deadlines, or compliance rules matter, use those official sources before relying on a summary.

What Justice Does

The Department of Justice serves as the federal government’s chief law-enforcement and legal department, prosecuting federal crimes, representing the United States in court, enforcing civil-rights and antitrust laws, and overseeing major law-enforcement components. Visitors may use DOJ sources to report federal crimes, find civil-rights information, review court filings or enforcement actions, locate grants, understand law-enforcement programs, or reach the right component. Use official source links for current forms, deadlines, eligibility rules, data, legal notices, public records, and contact channels.

Public SafetyReport federal crimes, civil-rights issues, or public-safety concerns through the correct DOJ route.

Benefits and AssistanceReview DOJ press releases, legal opinions, litigation, enforcement actions, and grants.

Programs and OfficesFind component pages for the FBI, DEA, ATF, Bureau of Prisons, U.S. Marshals, and immigration courts.

Data and RecordsUse official source links to verify legal guidance, records, and public accountability materials.

How It Fits In Government

Executive DepartmentDepartment of Justice is a Cabinet-level executive department. Its leader is nominated by the President, usually confirmed by the Senate, and responsible for carrying out laws in a major policy area.

Public AccountabilityIts work may appear through official notices, regulations, reports, data systems, service portals, hearings, inspections, grants, enforcement actions, or public contact channels.

Where To VerifyUse the official agency website first for current forms, deadlines, leadership, program rules, contact information, and legal notices.

Major Bureaus and Operating Components

Federal Bureau of InvestigationFederal Bureau of Investigation investigates federal crimes and national-security threats, supports law-enforcement partners, collects crime data, manages tips, publishes wanted information, and provides public safety resources. Visitors may use FBI sources to submit tips, find field offices, search wanted notices, review crime data, learn about scams or…

Public Service Guide

How visitors may use Justice

This profile is designed to help visitors find practical government services, not just describe the agency in the abstract. Start with the official sources below, then use related public service links when a specific form, record, benefit, complaint, data tool, or office is needed.

Public Services Visitors May Need

Justice.govOpen official source Report a crimeOpen official source Civil Rights DivisionOpen official source Victim servicesOpen official source FOIA at DOJOpen official source DOJ grantsOpen official source Bureau of PrisonsOpen official source FBIOpen official source Federal Register documentsOpen official source Regulations.gov searchOpen official source USAspending searchOpen official source FOIA.gov agency searchOpen official source

Budget, Records, and Public Accountability

Agency work can also show up in official records: rules, notices, spending data, public comments, reports, grants, enforcement actions, or FOIA/public-record systems. Use these sources to move from a plain-English profile to the official record trail.

Federal Register documentsSearch official notices, rules, proposed rules, and presidential or agency documents.Regulations.gov docketsFind rulemaking dockets, supporting materials, and public comment opportunities.USAspending searchSearch federal awards, grants, contracts, loans, and spending records.FOIA.gov agency searchFind public-record request routes and FOIA contact information.

Learn More

Official records and updatesLook for current announcements, notices, rulemaking, public data, forms, and contact information directly from official sources.

Related servicesMany agency services connect to benefits, taxes, passports, safety, records, grants, complaints, inspections, research, or public information requests.

When to use this profileUse this page to understand what the agency does, then follow official links for applications, deadlines, eligibility rules, data, and legal text.