Investigative Division
The Investigative Division, under the direction of the Deputy Director for Investigations, is the largest division of the GBI with 400 employees, working in Regional Offices, Regional Drug Enforcement Offices and other work units that provide specialized services in criminal investigations. Special agents from the Investigative Division respond to requests for assistance from local law enforcement officials to investigate major crimes such as: homicide, rape, child abuse, armed robbery, fraud and other felonies. Drug investigations can be initiated without request.
At this time, the Investigative Division is prioritizing its resources to combat violent crime in Georgia. Death investigations, investigations of violent crime, and investigations of drug activity which directly contribute to violent crime, currently consume the majority of Investigative Division resources. GBI agents are constantly exploring and developing more effective investigative techniques to address violent crime.
Powers and Duties
Georgia Bureau of Investigation agents are authorized under the laws of the State of Georgia to conduct criminal investigations, make arrests, execute search warrants, seize property which is contraband, carry firearms, and detect or apprehend persons (in Georgia) violating the criminal laws of this state, any other state, or the United States.
Additionally, agents are empowered and authorized to:
- Arrest any person or persons violating the criminal laws of this state on property owned by the state, its departments, bureaus, commissions, or authorities;
- Serve and execute warrants on property owned by the state or its departments, bureaus, commissions or authorities;
- Enforce in general the criminal laws of this state on property owned by the state or its departments, bureaus, commissions, or authorities;
- Investigate and make arrests of persons violating the Georgia Controlled Substances Act anywhere in the state;
- Apprehend and arrest any person who is a fugitive from justice;
- Enforce state statutes pertaining to bingo games, including licensing and inspection;
- Enforce the Georgia Anti-Terrorism Act of 1984. A terroristic act is defined as an action that constitutes a crime against the person or residence of an individual which is committed with the specific intent to restrain that person or persons from exercising their rights under the Constitution and laws of this state and the United States on the basis of their race, national origin, religious persuasion, political beliefs or political affiliation.
Request for Assistance
Georgia Bureau of Investigation agents may exercise the power to arrest any person or persons for violation of any laws of this or another state of the United States upon a request for assistance from:
- Governing officials of a municipality
- District Attorneys
- Sheriffs
- Superior Court Judges
- Chief law enforcement officers of any municipality
- Chiefs of county police departments (in counties with population in excess of 100,000)
- Chiefs of regular or volunteer fire departments (in suspected arson cases)
- Governor of Georgia (by directive)
Drug Enforcement
There are three Regional Drug Enforcement Offices that investigate major drug cases such as trafficking, smuggling, clandestine laboratories and major drug distribution organizations. These offices are located in Savannah, Macon and Canton.
Thirteen Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Forces are supervised by GBI personnel. They are the Altamaha Drug Task Force, the Appalachian Drug Task Force, the Cherokee Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad, the East Central Drug Task Force, the Haralson-Paulding Drug Task Force, the Ocmulgee Drug Task Force, the Oconee Drug Task Force, the Pataula Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force, the Piedmont Northern Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad, the South Georgia Drug Task Force, the State Drug Task Force, the Tri-Circuit Drug Task Force, and the West Georgia Drug Task Force.
General Investigations
There are fifteen regional offices strategically located throughout the state that assist local law enforcement agencies, when requested, in a variety of felony criminal investigations. These offices are located in Americus, Athens, Calhoun, Conyers, Douglas, Eastman, Gainesville, Greenville, Kingsland, Milledgeville, Perry, Statesboro, Sylvester, Thomasville and Thomson.
Associated Document(s): |
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| Regional Offices Map |