Fbi Ethics

Ethics and the Federal Bureau of Investigation

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is a federal security agency that was established in 1908. FBI employees work in over four hundred and fifty offices around the country and the world (Mission, 2016). The bureau currently employs 35,000 people as special agents, intelligence analysts, language specialists, scientists, and computer experts (Frequently Asked, 2016). The FBI is involved in cases such as interstate kidnappings, terrorism, crimes against children, bank robbery, cybercrime, corruption involving public officials, and even counter intelligence. The agency maintains lists of the “Ten Most Wanted” fugitives, as well as posters detailing various wanted terrorists, missing persons,

Their motto, “Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity”, matches the bureaus acronym and expresses the importance of ethics within the organization (Mission, 2016). Furthermore, their core values statement includes “fairness; uncompromising personal integrity and institutional integrity; accountability by accepting responsibility for our actions and decisions and the consequences of our actions and decisions; and leadership, both personal and professional” (Mission, 2016). FBI Director James Comey also stated that “integrity is the value that binds together the very fabric of our institutional identity” (United States, 2015, p. 1). These all reference the high expectations placed on those who work for the organization from the newest agent to the

FBI agents are called on to make split second decisions, while far from their office, so they need to demonstrate discretion at all times. They must also be able to use the powers granted them in a rational manner, while making fair decisions based on evidence and not on personal feelings or biases. In addition, they need to consider their actions, and operate in the public interest to enforce federal laws and keep the peace. Since they interact with other state, local, or international law enforcement organizations, agents must exemplify these ethical standards, while not behaving in an overreaching manner. They are required to obey the same laws as any other citizen; however, they are also held to higher ethical standards (both on and off the job) as law enforcement professionals. According to an introductory letter in the ethics policy manual, while “it is our policy to adhere to the highest standards of ethical conduct […] determining what is ‘right’ is sometimes difficult to discern” (United States, 2015, p. 1); however, all personnel are expected to understand and uphold these standards. Those that do not, face steep consequences because the integrity of the organization must be upheld in order to maintain the trust of the citizens who have granted them this