The Department of Justice (DOJ) is the agency within the United States that is responsible for the enforcement of federal laws. The Department is divided into numerous division and sections. The Central Authority for the United States for processing all mutual legal assistance requests in criminal matters is the Office of International Affairs (OIA). OIA is an office within the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice.
OIA coordinates all international evidence gathering and the extradition of international fugitives. In concert with the State Department, OIA engages in the negotiation of bilateral and multi-lateral treaties, conventions, and other agreements on international criminal matters. OIA attorneys also participate on a number of committees established under the auspices of the United Nations and other international organizations that are directed at resolving a variety of international law enforcement problems, such as narcotics trafficking, organized crime, cyber-crime, corruption, terrorism, and money laundering. OIA maintains permanent field offices in Rome and Mexico City, and recently opened an office for Central America in San Salvador. OIA also works closely with a Criminal Division representative in Brussels, and has exchange programs with the Justice Ministry in France and the Home Office in the United Kingdom. An OIA attorney normally serves as the general counsel to the U.S. National Central Bureau (the U.S. office for Interpol).
