As California's top-level investigative law enforcement agency and legal department, CA DOJ has statewide authority with over 4,700 employees and a budget of US$1.048 billion in 2019.

[2] Last data is that the governor's budget proposes $1.2 billion to support DOJ operations in 2022‑23—an increase of $40 million (or 3.4 percent)—over the revised amount for 2021‑22.

Whether running a narcotics task force, investigating a murder, uncovering political corruption, bringing human traffickers to justice, or disrupting violent gangs, CA DOJ Special Agents consistently conduct a variety of law enforcement investigative activities at multiple levels.

[6] While the California Office of the Attorney General was created in 1850, the law enforcement and criminal investigative capabilities of the CA DOJ were not fully established until the early 20th century.

However, the mission of CA DOJ Special Agents mirrors that of the original California Rangers, the first statewide criminal investigative and law enforcement agency created on May 17, 1853.

The Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse works aggressively to investigate and prosecute those who rob taxpayers of millions of dollars each year and divert scarce health care resources from the needy.

The Division conducts statewide investigations and prosecutes fraud relating to the activities of medical fproviders receiving funding under the Medi-Cal system.

The section also reviews and prosecutes reports of elder abuse and neglect of patients housed in federally funded nursing home facilities.

The Financial Fraud and Special Prosecutions Unit investigates and prosecutes complex criminal cases occurring in California, primarily related to financial, securities, mortgage, and environmental fraud; public corruption, including violations of California's Political Reform Act; “underground economy” offenses, including tax and revenue fraud and counterfeiting; transnational organized crime; human trafficking; and crimes within the scope of the Attorney General's Bureau of Children's Justice.

Vertical teams of prosecutors, investigators, auditors, and paralegals often work with federal and local authorities on cases involving multi-jurisdictional criminal activity.

The mission of the Division of Public Rights is to safeguard the state's environment, lands, and natural resources; maintain competitive markets; prevent fraudulent business practices; protect consumers; monitor Indian and Gaming practices; preserve charitable assets, and protect the civil rights of all Californians.