Office of the
Attorney General
About the Department of Justice
The California Department of Justice carries out the responsibilities of the Attorney General through these main divisions and bureaus. The department operates statewide with major offices in Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Oakland, San Diego and Fresno.
Division of Civil Law
This division both prosecutes and defends civil actions on behalf of Californians and hundreds of state officers, agencies, departments, boards, bureaus and commissions.
Division of Public Rights
This division serves Californians by safeguarding the state's environmental and natural resources, protecting state lands, maintaining competitive business markets, preventing fraudulent business practices, protecting consumers, preserving charitable assets and protecting civil rights.
Division of Criminal Law
This division carries out the constitutional and statutory mandate that the Attorney General represent the People of the State of California in criminal cases.
Division of Law Enforcement
This division maintains several crime suppression programs and provides a wide range of support to other state and local law enforcement agencies through forensic sciences, narcotics investigation, intelligence and training.
Bureau of Firearms
This bureau is responsible for identifying individuals who are ineligible to acquire or possess firearms and other dangerous weapons.
Bureau of Gambling Control
This bureau regulates legal gambling activities in the state to ensure that gambling is conducted honestly, competitively and free from criminal and corruptive elements.
Division of California Justice Information Services
This division facilitates the exchange of criminal justice intelligence among law enforcement agencies using improving technologies to help protect the public.
Division of Administrative Support
This division supports the day-to-day operations of the Department of Justice and its personnel.
Legal Support and Technology
This section delivers expert administrative technology and support services within the department and to client agencies.
Executive Division
This division provides the support network for the Attorney General and includes those functions not directly related to the office's litigation or law enforcement responsibilities. These activities include an Office of Victims' Services and Office of Native American Affairs.
Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. was elected statewide to serve as the chief law officer of California. It is the duty of the Attorney General to see that the laws of the state are uniformly and adequately enforced (California Constitution, Article V, Section 13.) The Attorney General carries out responsibilities of the office through the California Department of Justice.
The Attorney General represents the people of California in civil and criminal matters before trial, appellate and the supreme courts of California and the United States. The Attorney General also serves as legal counsel to state officers and, with few exceptions, to state agencies, boards and commissions. Exceptions to the centralized legal work done on behalf of the state are listed in Section 11041 of the Government Code.
The Attorney General also assists district attorneys, local law enforcement, and federal and international criminal justice agencies in the administration of justice. To support California's law enforcement community, the Attorney General coordinates statewide narcotics enforcement efforts, participates in criminal investigations and provides forensic science services, identification and information services and telecommunication support.
In addition, the Attorney General establishes and operates projects and programs to protect Californians from fraudulent, unfair, and illegal activities that victimize consumers or threaten public safety, and enforces laws that safeguard the environment and natural resources.
Under the state Constitution, the Attorney General is elected to a four-year term in the same statewide election as the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Controller, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Superintendent of Public Instruction and Insurance Commissioner. In 1990, voters imposed a two-term limit on these statewide offices.