The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI), by statute, has general police powers. The mission of MBI is to investigate, report, and prevent criminal activities; to coordinate activities between federal, state, and local authorities involved in crime prevention and criminal investigations; and other related tasks as may be assigned. MBI has the responsibility through the Criminal Information Center for coordinating, sharing, and exchanging information with other agencies on an intrastate level concerning intelligence and other criminal activities.
The MBI is supervised by a director, three regional majors, and nine district lieutenants. MBI also has responsibility for the following divisions:
- Protective Services Unit
- Special Operations and Major Crimes Unit
- Salvage Inspection Unit
- Victim Assistance Program
- MIssissippi Justice Information Center (MJIC)
- Criminal Information Center (CIC)
In making the mission of MBI a reality, investigators work closely with federal, state, and local agencies in the sharing of MBI’s expertise in information and crime scene management, training, crime prevention education, victim assistance, and any other resource to deter the criminal element.
In order to carry out MBI’s mission, investigators are authorized by statute (Mississippi Code Ann. §45-3-21) to:
- Carry firearms;
- Initiate investigations concerning any type of criminal activity;
- Execute and service search warrants, arrest warrants, subpoenas, and summonses issued under the authority of this state;
- Make arrests without warrant for any offense committed in his/her presence, or if he/she has probable cause to believe the person to be arrested has committed or is committing a crime; and
- Make seizures of property pursuant to the MS Code.