NCJ Number
42347
Date Published
1977
Length
61 pages
Annotation
FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS SEIZE LARGE AMOUNTS OF PROPERTY, IN CARRYING OUT THEIR WORK, WHICH IS OFTEN HELD A LONG TIME, EITHER AS EVIDENCE OR WAITING TO BE FORFEITED TO THE GOVERNMENT.
Abstract
PROBLEMS, SUCH AS LOSS OF ILLICIT DRUGS, LOSS OF INTEREST ON CURRENCY, DETERIORATION OF SEIZED VEHICLES, AND ACCUMULATION OF FIREARMS, APPEAR TO HAVE A COMMON CAUSE: TOO MUCH IS HELD TOO LONG. THIS GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE REPORT REVIEWS THIS PROBLEM AND RECOMMENDS SEVERAL PRACTICES TO HASTEN THE DISPOSAL OF DRUGS, FIREARMS, CURRENCY, AND OTHER SEIZED PROPERTY. PROPOSALS INCLUDE USING SAMPLES OF SEIZED DRUGS AS EVIDENCE (WHEN PERMITTED BY THE COURT) AND DESTROYING THE REST; DEPOSITING LARGE AMOUNTS OF SEIZED CURRENCY IN U.S. TREASURY INTEREST BEARING ACCOUNTS OR RETURNING THEM SOONER TO THEIR RIGHTFUL OWNER AND USING SUBSTITUTIONS SUCH AS SERIAL NUMBERS AND PHOTOCOPIES OF THE MONEY; HAVING THE GOVERNMENT SERVICES AGENCY SELL ALL VEHICLES NOT USED BY THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT; INCREASING THE DOLLAR LIMITATION FOR ADMINISTRATIVE FORFEITURE; AND UTILIZING SMALL SAMPLES AND PHOTOGRAPHS OF EXPLOSIVES AND FIREARMS SEIZED AND FORFEITING, ABANDONING, AND/OR RETURNING THE ITEMS TO THE RIGHTFUL OWNER. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND TREASURY DEPARTMENT COMMENTS ON THESE PROPOSALS ARE INCLUDED....ELW