View source for Critical Incident Response Group

{{Organization
|OrganizationName=Critical Incident Response Group
|OrganizationType=Administrative and Support Agencies
|Mission=To respond to and manage critical incidents, including hostage situations, barricaded subjects, and other high-risk operations. The CIRG provides tactical, negotiative, and behavioral science support to ensure the safety of both the public and law enforcement personnel during these incidents.
|ParentOrganization=Federal Bureau of Investigation
|TopOrganization=Department of Justice
|OrganizationExecutive=Assistant Director
|Services=Crisis negotiation; Tactical operations; Behavioral analysis; Rapid deployment logistics
|HeadquartersLocation=38.89514, -77.02498
|HeadquartersAddress=935 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20535
}}
{{Short description|US FBI special crisis unit}}

The '''Critical Incident Response Group''' ('''CIRG''') is a division of the [[FBI Criminal, Cyber, Response, and Services Branch|Criminal, Cyber, Response, and Services Branch]] of the [[United States]] [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]]. CIRG enables the FBI to rapidly respond to, and effectively manage, special crisis incidents in the United States.

==History==
In response to public outcry over the standoffs at [[Ruby Ridge]], Idaho, and of the [[Branch Davidian#BATF raid and siege|Branch Davidians]] in the [[Waco Siege]], the FBI formed the CIRG in 1994 to deal with crisis situations more efficiently. The CIRG is designated to formulate strategies, manage hostage or siege situations, and if possible resolve them "without loss of life", as pledged in a 1995 Senate hearing by FBI Director [[Louis Freeh]], who assumed the post four-and-a-half months after the Waco Siege.

CIRG was intended to integrate tactical and investigative resources and expertise for critical incidents which necessitate an immediate response from law enforcement authorities. CIRG will deploy investigative specialists to respond to terrorist activities, hostage takings, [[child abduction]]s and other high-risk repetitive violent crimes. Other major incidents include prison riots, bombings, air and train crashes, and natural disasters.

==Organization==
Each of the major areas of CIRG furnishes distinctive operational assistance and training to FBI [[List of FBI Field Offices|field offices]] as well as state, local and international law enforcement agencies.

* '''Surveillance and Aviation Section''' – Provides aviation and surveillance support for all facets of FBI investigative activities with a priority on protecting the United States from terrorist attack and against foreign intelligence operations and espionage.
Aviation Surveillance Branch
*Aviation Support Unit
*Special Flight Operations Unit
*Field Flight Operations Unit
Mobile Surveillance Branch
*Mobile Surveillance Teams-Armed (MST-A)
*Mobile Surveillance Teams (MST)
* '''Tactical Section''' – Provides the FBI with a nationwide, three-tiered tactical resolution capability that upon proper authorization can be activated within four hours of notification to address a full spectrum of terrorist or criminal matters.
Operations and Training Unit
[[Hostage Rescue Team]] 
[[FBI Special Weapons and Tactics Teams|SWAT Operations Unit]]
[[FBI Special Weapons and Tactics Teams|Special Weapons and Tactics Teams]] 
[[FBI Crisis Negotiation Unit|Crisis Negotiation Unit]] 
Tactical Helicopter Unit
Operational Support Unit
* '''Investigative and Operations Support Section''' – Prepares for and responds to critical incidents, major investigations, and special events by providing expertise in behavioral and crime analysis, crisis management, and rapid deployment logistics.
 [[National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime]]
* [[Behavioral Analysis Unit]]
* [[Violent Criminal Apprehension Program]]
 Crisis Management Unit
 Rapid Deployment and Logistics
* '''[[Strategic Information and Operation Center]]''' – Serves as the FBI's 24-hour clearinghouse for strategic information, and as the center for crisis management and special event monitoring.
* '''Counter-IED Section''' – Provides training, equipment, and advanced technical support to prevent and effectively respond to terrorist or criminal use of hazardous devices explosives and weapons of mass destruction.
* '''Critical Incident Intelligence Unit''' – Provides intelligence to inform operational planning and strategic decision-making.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==  
* [https://www.fbi.gov/services/cirg Critical Incident Response Group]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080109073451/http://www.fbi.gov/hq/isd/cirg/osb.htm FBI Operations Support Branch]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160509132226/https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cirg/tactical-operations FBI Tactical Operations Section]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100611080831/http://www.fbi.gov/hq/isd/cirg/ncavc.htm FBI National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime]

{{FBI}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Federal Bureau of Investigation]]
[[Category:Government agencies established in 1994]]
[[Category:1994 establishments in the United States]]