Readers are cautioned to use this work as a guide and to contact the appropriate source within the Federal Government for current, definitive employment standards. Position descriptions are presented under the appropriate agency and department to which they are assigned. For example, special agents with the U.S. Customs Service would be initially classified under the Department of the Treasury and secondarily under the U.S. Customs Service. In addition, a brief background description, which includes both the history and goals of each department or agency, is given. Position descriptions are listed under the appropriate department or agency and are presented in the following standard format: job description, requirements (physical condition, experience, education), examination, training, benefits, and application procedures. The job description summarizes the duties; if the position has a limited geographical area of employment, this fact is usually noted in the descriptive text. An introductory section lists the education and experience criteria for different entry level positions, discusses three types of hiring preferences (veteran's, academic achievement and minority status) as well as salary, using the Office of Personnel Management as the authority on employment, mid-and senior-level/entry positions, summer employment, and standardized application procedures. Some general recruitment strategies for criminal justice agencies are listed, and appendixes list Federal Job Information Centers and a job title index. (Author abstract modified).