Law enforcement is a common public service that many governments provide at the local and national levels. The main objectives of law enforcement are to protect citizens from criminal activity, prevent future crime, conduct criminal investigations and punish criminals. To achieve these goals, governments organize law enforcement agencies for different jurisdictions. Most law enforcement agencies exist at the municipal or county level, although some serve entire countries and work to combat large-scale criminal threats.
The mission of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) is to promote public safety and enhance homeland security by providing services in partnership with local, state, and federal criminal justice agencies to prevent, investigate, and solve crimes while protecting the citizens and visitors of Florida.
What services does the department provide?
Through seven regional operations centers and six crime laboratories, the FDLE provides investigative, forensic, and information services to Florida’s criminal justice community. The Department is comprised of five divisions.
- The Division of Criminal Investigation and Forensic Science manages, coordinates and provides investigative and forensic services.
- Criminal Justice Information Services provides screening services to criminal justice agencies, non-criminal justice agencies, and private citizens to identify individuals with criminal warrants, arrests, and convictions.
- Professionalism in Criminal Justice encourages and promotes competence and professional conduct among Florida’s criminal justice professionals, and provides training to FDLE members and the Florida criminal justice community.
- The Florida Capitol Police provides uniformed law enforcement operations to ensure the security of the Governor’s Office, Cabinet, Legislature, dignitaries and other state officials and employees, as well as visitors to the Capitol Complex and Capitol Circle Office Complex.
- Executive Leadership and Support provides management, coordination and direction to the agency and ensures that FDLE’s mission and goals are met. This includes the offices of the Executive Director, Chief of Staff, Inspector General, Executive Investigations, Protective Operations, and Office of General Counsel.