0820 Department of Justice
Program Descriptions

50 - LAW ENFORCEMENT

The Division of Law Enforcement is organized into seven elements: (1) the Bureau of Investigation, (2) the Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement, (3) the Bureau of Forensic Services, (4) the Western States Information Network, (5) the Criminal Intelligence Bureau, (6) the Bureau of Firearms, and (7) the Bureau of Gambling Control.

The Bureau of Investigation conducts criminal investigations of statewide importance and provides investigative services to criminal justice agencies, public agencies and to the Department of Justice in criminal cases. The Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement combats the state's narcotic problem by providing leadership, coordination, and support to law enforcement through 9 regional offices and 39 multi-agency drug task forces, special operations units, drug diversion, gang suppression enforcement teams, clandestine laboratory teams, and crackdown teams.

The Bureau of Forensic Services provides evaluation and analysis of physical evidence including expert court testimony to state and local law enforcement agencies by operating 11 specialized laboratories serving 46 counties as well as a forensic training facility and a DNA laboratory that is compiling and maintaining a database of sex and violent offenders.

The Western States Information Network provides an automated database of suspected narcotic traffickers and other criminal elements for member agencies in Alaska, Hawaii, California, Oregon, and Washington.

The Criminal Intelligence Bureau provides timely collection, coordination, analysis, investigation, and dissemination of criminal intelligence regarding organized crime, street gangs, and terrorist activity to federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

The Bureau of Firearms provides oversight, enforcement and regulation of firearms in California by conducting firearms eligibility reviews, administering: (1) the handgun safety certificate program, (2) a centralized list of firearms dealers, and (3) the gun show producer and assault weapon registration programs, conducting firearms dealer and manufacturer inspections, and investigating violations. The Bureau of Firearms also conducts investigations on armed and prohibited persons, in accordance with state and federal law, and administers the armed and prohibited persons database and the safe handgun and firearms safety device programs.

The Bureau of Gambling Control regulates legal gambling activities in California to ensure gambling is conducted honestly and is free from criminal and corruptive elements by investigating the qualifications of individuals who apply for state gambling licenses, monitoring the conduct of these licensees to ensure compliance with the Gambling Control Act. Its role also includes regulating Tribal Gaming by ensuring that the each Tribe is in compliance with all aspects of the gaming compact entered into between the Tribe and the State.