Questions for FBI Agents

[dmac9000]

Hi, I'm a screenwriter trying to write an accurate depiction of the brave and talented investigators of the FBI. I have a few questions that maybe you could help to clear up for me.

1) In the smallest FBI field offices, how many investigators might they have? Only 1 or 2 potentially?
2) How much freedom does a regular agent, not an S.A.C., to control their own day. I'm guessing while working on an assignment given by the SAC, they must stick to that assignment. But must they account for all hours of the day, through say a log or something, what they did in relation to that case?
3) Is it feasible that an FBI agent might have a favorite case he wants to investigate and does it in his downtime?
4) I have a scene in the movie where 2 FBI agents at a smaller field office go to their local federal pen and see if they can shake down inmates in return for reduced sentences, and this is something they do on a frequent basis, trying to dig up information in general from wherever they can, even if it's not specific to their current assignment. Is this in any way realistic or not based on your experience?
5) For 2 guys to go off and investigate a lead in another state without reporting it to the higherups in that state, or going through the proper channels, is that career suicide? Or if it leads to a major collar, maybe the guys would look the other way - i.e. the end justifies the means? How frowned upon is departing from the S.O.P. in the FBI? Are there some guys who get away with it through the force of their personalities or their outstanding results?

Thank you in advance for any insights!
Dave
NYC

[retdetsgt]

The first rule in the FBI:

Never share information.....

[txinvestigator1]

Hi Dave,

I am a consultant specializing in helping screenwriters have accuracy in Law Enforcement related books, screenplays and scripts. Please PM me to discuss my rates.

I assume you plan to earn money from your screenplay.....

[retdetsgt]

I'm just dying to see a SA come on and be critical of the agency......

[kels]

The first rule in the FBI:

Never share information.....

ROTFLMAO, I owe you green.

[Nole795]

First, not an FBI agent. I have worked with them on several assignments and will assist as much as I can, my answers are in bold

Hi, I'm a screenwriter trying to write an accurate depiction of the brave and talented investigators of the FBI (I can tell this is a fictional story). I have a few questions that maybe you could help to clear up for me.

1) In the smallest FBI field offices, how many investigators might they have? Only 1 or 2 potentially?

Dependant on the location, it is very possible to have a 1 or 2 man office. I worked with an agent in a small area outside a metropolis that worked in a 1 man office.

2) How much freedom does a regular agent, not an S.A.C., to control their own day. I'm guessing while working on an assignment given by the SAC, they must stick to that assignment. But must they account for all hours of the day, through say a log or something, what they did in relation to that case?

Cant answer that.

3) Is it feasible that an FBI agent might have a favorite case he wants to investigate and does it in his downtime?

cant answer that either

4) I have a scene in the movie where 2 FBI agents at a smaller field office go to their local federal pen and see if they can shake down inmates in return for reduced sentences, and this is something they do on a frequent basis, trying to dig up information in general from wherever they can, even if it's not specific to their current assignment. Is this in any way realistic or not based on your experience?

Not realistic, first, the only person that start the process of reducing an inmates sentencing is an Assistant U.S. Attorney. The agents cant promise anything in a situation like that. Normally an investigator would speak to an inmate if they had something specific to ask, not to fish for any possible leads.

5) For 2 guys to go off and investigate a lead in another state without reporting it to the higherups in that state, or going through the proper channels, is that career suicide? Or if it leads to a major collar, maybe the guys would look the other way - i.e. the end justifies the means? How frowned upon is departing from the S.O.P. in the FBI? Are there some guys who get away with it through the force of their personalities or their outstanding results?

Cant answer that either
Thank you in advance for any insights!
Dave
NYC

Good luck with your script

[Wolfman]

[quote=dmac9000;1088043]Hi, I'm a screenwriter trying to write an accurate depiction of the brave and talented investigators of the FBI. I have a few questions that maybe you could help to clear up for me.

1) In the smallest FBI field offices, how many investigators might they have? Only 1 or 2 potentially?

There are 56 field offices with over 400 resident agencies (RA); "Field Office" numbers are counted using the reporting RA's agents as well. In some RA's, or say Indian Country, there may be only 1 - 2 agents who work that area. Federal Bureau of Investigation - Your Local FBI Office

2) How much freedom does a regular agent, not an S.A.C., to control their own day. I'm guessing while working on an assignment given by the SAC, they must stick to that assignment. But must they account for all hours of the day, through say a log or something, what they did in relation to that case?

-Your day is pretty much yours to do with as you need to. The "normal" agent will not deal with the SAC daily, they will deal with a SSA (Supervisory Special Agent) ; If there is a "hot item" then that will take priority over other cases - otherwise agents may investigate their cases as they see fit. Most have multiple cases open at the same time.

-the Chain of Command very basically goes like this:
SA --> SSA -->ASAC --> SAC
in some larger field offices (NY & LA) instead of having an SAC they have an Assistant Director (ADIC), and have an SAC reporting to them.

-You must account for your time by filling out a timesheet, which includes a break down of generically how much time you put into each type of case you worked (CT, Bank Robberies, Kidnappings, Mortgage Fraud, etc.)

3) Is it feasible that an FBI agent might have a favorite case he wants to investigate and does it in his downtime?

Sure an agent might have a "favorite case," that he likes working on more than another; you will not work a case on your "downtime." You are either on duty or off duty, if you are off duty, then you need to leave your work there. SA's work all hours (much like police,detectives, etc.) so even if it is 4AM in the morning on a surveillance for your case, you are still on duty.

4) I have a scene in the movie where 2 FBI agents at a smaller field office go to their local federal pen and see if they can shake down inmates in return for reduced sentences, and this is something they do on a frequent basis, trying to dig up information in general from wherever they can, even if it's not specific to their current assignment. Is this in any way realistic or not based on your experience?

Nole 795 answered that one well, please see his reply.

In most cases, you don't have a great deal of "free time" to dig up stuff; if you go fishing, then you are probably putting something else off. SA's do a lot more than just investigate cases, they have training requirements, administrative burdens, qualifications, and classes to attend. SA's may speak with an inmate but it would more than likely that either (a) the inmate requested the meeting, (b) the agents needed specific information from him, or (c) they were requested to interview him from another Field Office or agency

5) For 2 guys to go off and investigate a lead in another state without reporting it to the higherups in that state, or going through the proper channels, is that career suicide? Or if it leads to a major collar, maybe the guys would look the other way - i.e. the end justifies the means? How frowned upon is departing from the S.O.P. in the FBI? Are there some guys who get away with it through the force of their personalities or their outstanding results?

-See the "downtime" situation above. Not realistic either because even if you did do something like this on your "downtime," you would not get reimbursed for any expenses, probably not be covered if something bad went down and you were unauthorized to do what you were doing, and if you drove the Bu-Car when you weren't supposed to.... basically enjoy the month off.

-As for tracking down a lead, most leads are sent for agents in that jurisdiction to do unless the nature of the investigation is complex enough where the case agent may be the only one that can intelligently interview the person, explain the case, etc.

-Even for the simplest arrest, seizure, etc.... a detailed plan is required to be approved through the chain of command. Has someone gotten away with it? Who knows...

**All things being equal, please understand that if you write a movie about the "real" FBI, or the "real" police (got a plug in lol) for that matter - the public would probably not want to watch it.

If Lethal Weapon showed the paperwork involved in an investigation, the civil lawsuits and fallout hassle of shootouts, and the internal investigations that a REAL department did when an officer is a "loose canon," then they would be pretty annoyed ....given those facts, the movie Lethal Weapon would involve about 109 minutes 37 seconds of paperwork, interviewing, research, and planning with about 23 seconds of an arrest that went off without a shootout.

*As a disclaimer: I love Lethal Weapon, enjoy police movies, and understand that "24" is 100% how it is in real life...

The first rule in the FBI:

Never share information.....

Oh crap I forgot...... if you read this thread, please see the below link


More Useful FBI Information

[Citicop]

The first rule in the FBI:

Never share credit.....

Fixed it for you...



Citicop.