Agents working for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are stationed across the United States to help protect the country against foreign attacks, terrorism, and counterintelligence/espionage; as well as to enforce federal laws and assist local agencies in law enforcement as needed.
FBI jobs in Rhode Island are under the jurisdiction of the Boston Field Office. Rhode Island has a Satellite Office in Providence. FBI agents working from the Providence office are responsible for the safety of the entire state of Rhode Island. FBI special agents in Rhode Island have investigated crimes centering on bank robbery, art fraud, mortgage loan fraud, organized crime, health care fraud, and hate crimes.
According to the Criminal Justice Information Services Division of the FBI, in 2010 there were 2655 violent crimes in Rhode Island, with the majority occurring in cities such as Providence, Pawtucket, Woonsocket, Newport, Cranston and Central Falls. FBI agents in Rhode Island assisted local law enforcement in some of these cases and wholly investigated others. Only the cities of Foster and Little Compton reported no violent crimes for 2010.
How to Become an FBI Special Agent in Rhode Island: Training and Degree Requirements
Aspiring FBI Special Agents in Rhode Island must first ensure that they have the determination, dedication, stamina and drive to become an FBI agent. If they think that they measure up to the FBI’s standards, they should check that they meet the following requirements necessary to become an FBI Special Agent in Rhode Island:
- U.S. citizen
- U.S. resident for three of the past five years
- Ages 23 to 36
- Hold at least a bachelor’s degree
- Have at least two years of work experience in professional environment, with the following exceptions:
- Hold a master’s or doctoral degree – two years work experience
- Hold a J.D. – no work experience required
- Have a background in computer science or information technology – no work experience required
- Are fluent in foreign language and score at least a 3 on FBI foreign language – no work experience required
- Are a former FBI Honors/Volunteer Intern with a 3.0 GPA- no work experience required
- Have a valid driver’s license and six months of driving experience
- Will go anywhere FBI needs agents
Applications are accepted online and at the FBI field office in Boston or satellite office in Providence. If hired, a new agent must complete 20 weeks of paid training in Quantico, Virginia prior to beginning a career as an FBI agent in Rhode Island.
FBI Field Offices and Jobs in Rhode Island
The FBI Resident Agency/Satellite Office in Providence, Rhode Island is the location for those holding FBI jobs in Rhode Island.FBI Special Agents in Rhode Island have had some interesting and challenging cases in recent years:
From February 2012 through July 2012, FBI agents in Rhode Island were tracking a man known only as the “Bearded Bandit.” This man had robbed four banks in Rhode Island and was known only by the video feed and photos taken of him at these banks. As of January 2013, the Bearded Bandit is still at large. A $5000 reward has been offered for his capture.
In February 2012, Rhode Island FBI agents in conjunction with local law enforcement completed a five-year investigation of Rhode Island Hospital. It was determined that the hospital had ordered $2.6 million in unnecessary medical tests and defrauded the federal government of this money. The hospital was ordered to repay the federal government $5.3 million in double and triple damages.
A Warwick, Rhode Island woman was sentenced in August 2012 to 10 years in federal prison for intentional arson of her home for profit. The FBI assisted the Rhode Island State Police, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, and Warwick Fire Department in this investigation.