Thread by @sabrinamkarim

What is the institutional design of law enforcement in the US (particularly Washington D.C.)? Here are some answers:

In general law enforcement is decentralized, with police agencies institutionalized at the municipal, county, and state level.

But there are a number of Federal Law Enforcement Agencies that have set jurisdiction and power. They lack coordination and cohesion. They are also mostly all controlled by the Executive. (As is the Washington D.C. National Guard and the Department of Defense)

At least two law enforcement agencies are not under the Executive. The US Capitol Police fall under the authority of Congress. They have 2,300 officers and a budget of $460 million.

The Supreme Court Police who fall under the authority of the Marshal of the United States Supreme Court who is appointed by the Supreme Court. They have 145 police officers.

When Trump used federal law enforcement agents in the summer in an unprecedented move, he drew on the Federal Law enforcement Agencies. They are unlikely to act without the president's authority. They are too uncoordinated to act on their own.

Here are the list of Law Enforcement Agencies in Washington DC that fall under executive authority:

DC Metropolitan Police Department under the authority of the mayor of DC but also the Executive. They have 3819 officers and a budget of $559 million.

US Marshals under the authority of Department of Justice (Executive)

US Secret Service under the authority of Department of Homeland Security (Executive)

US Park Police under the authority of the Department of the Interior (Executive)

US Mint Police under the authority of the Treasury Department (Executive)

Bureau of Diplomatic Security under the authority of the Department of State (Executive)

Naval Criminal Investigative Service under the authority of the U.S. Department of the Navy (Executive)

The United States Army Criminal Investigation Command (USACIDC) under the authority of the Army (Executive)

Air Force Office of Special Investigations under the authority of the Air Force (Executive)

Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) under the authority of the Department of Homeland Security (Executive)

US Postal Inspectors under the authority of the United States Postal Service (Executive)

FBI Police under the authority of the FBI or Department of Justice (Executive)

Federal Protective Service under the authority of the Department of Justice (Executive)

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives under the authority of the Department of Justice (Executive)

Drug Enforcement Administration under the authority of the Department of Justice (Executive) under the authority of the Department of Justice (Executive)

Federal Bureau of Prisons under the authority of the Department of Justice (Executive)

U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement under the authority of the Department of Homeland Security (Executive)

Thoughts on police complicity and strategic non-policing in a later thread.