What does DOJ stand for? DOJ is short for the Department of Justice, the part of the United States federal government in charge of enforcing federal law and representing the country in court. Its head is the Attorney General, a member of the president's Cabinet.
When a news anchor says "the DOJ filed charges" or "the DOJ issued guidance," this is the department they mean. Several well known agencies, including the FBI, sit inside it. States have their own justice departments too, so a headline about a state DOJ refers to that state's office of the attorney general, not the federal one.
Quick facts
Stands for
Department of JusticeType
InitialismLed by
The Attorney General of the United StatesCreated
1870, as a Cabinet departmentHeadquarters
Washington, D.C.Also written
USDOJ, DoJ, Justice DepartmentNot to be confused with
DOE, DHS, DOT
What is DOJ stand for, word by word
People often type the question as "what is doj stand for," and the answer is three words:
| Letter | Word |
|---|---|
| D | Department |
| O | of |
| J | Justice |
Notice that the small word "of" gets a letter here. Many government short forms skip it, but this one keeps it, which is why you will sometimes see the mixed spelling DoJ. Most American news outlets and the department itself use all capitals. In conversation, many people simply say "the Justice Department," and both names mean the same office.
What does DOJ stand for in practice: the department's job
The department has a wide job. In broad terms it:
- Investigates federal crimes through agencies such as the FBI.
- Prosecutes federal cases through United States Attorneys, who work in districts across the country.
- Represents the federal government when it sues or is sued, including before the Supreme Court, where the Solicitor General argues for the United States.
- Enforces civil rights, antitrust and environmental laws through its specialized divisions.
- Runs federal prisons through the Bureau of Prisons.
- Gives legal advice to the president and other agencies about what the law allows.
It does not make laws. Congress writes them, courts interpret them, and the DOJ enforces federal law within that system.
Agencies inside the DOJ
Several familiar sets of letters belong to the department:
| Short form | Full name | Main focus |
|---|---|---|
| FBI | Federal Bureau of Investigation | Federal crimes and national security investigations |
| DEA | Drug Enforcement Administration | Drug laws |
| ATF | Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives | Firearms, explosives, arson |
| USMS | United States Marshals Service | Federal fugitives, court security, witness protection |
| BOP | Federal Bureau of Prisons | Federal prisons |
Other agencies that sound similar, such as the Secret Service or border agencies, fall under the Department of Homeland Security instead. Browse dozens more federal letter sets in our government and military acronyms section.
Where you see DOJ
A news alert: "The DOJ announced an investigation into the company's billing practices." Federal lawyers or investigators have opened a case. An investigation is not a finding that anyone broke the law.
- News stories about charges, settlements, court filings and federal policy.
- Court papers, where the United States appears as a party represented by DOJ attorneys.
- Job postings for federal attorneys, analysts and agents.
- State websites, where a state DOJ handles that state's legal matters, such as consumer complaints.
Saying and writing DOJ
Read it as three letters, "dee oh jay." Nobody says it as "doj" rhyming with lodge. In running text, write "the DOJ" with "the" in front, just as you would say "the department." Spell out "Department of Justice" the first time in formal writing and use DOJ after that. Some style guides prefer "Justice Department" in headlines because it reads faster for a general audience. For the reason some short forms get spoken as words while DOJ does not, read acronym vs abbreviation.
DOJ compared with other departments
Federal department names all start with D, so mix ups are common:
- DOE is the Department of Energy, or in some states, a department of education.
- DHS covers homeland security, borders and disaster response.
- DOT is the Department of Transportation.
- DOD, now often styled DoD, is the Department of Defense.
If the story is about prosecutions, federal courts or the Attorney General, DOJ is the one you want.
Questions people ask
Who runs the DOJ?
The Attorney General leads it. The president nominates the Attorney General, and the Senate must confirm the choice.
Is the FBI part of the DOJ?
Yes. The FBI is the main investigative agency within the Department of Justice, and its director reports to the Attorney General.
When was the Department of Justice created?
Congress created it in 1870. The office of Attorney General is older and dates back to 1789.
Is DOJ the same as the Supreme Court?
No. The Supreme Court is part of the judicial branch, while the DOJ is part of the executive branch. DOJ lawyers argue cases in front of the Court but do not decide them.
What does state DOJ mean?
Many states call their attorney general's office a department of justice. It handles state law, separate from the federal department.