It was created by an act of Congress in 1980, and is a private non-profit institution; it is adjacent to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial and the Judiciary Square Metro station.
Museum tersebut dibuat oleh Undang-Undang Kongres pada 1980, dan merupakan lembaga nirlaba swasta; museum tersebut berdekatan dengan National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial dan stasiun Judiciary Square Metro.