NCJ Number
47835
Date Published
1978
Length
77 pages
Annotation
THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION'S NEW INFORMATION SYSTEM PROVIDES A TOOL FOR EFFECTIVELY MANAGING ITS INVESTIGATIVE RESOURCES AND MEASURING THEIR RESULTS TO AID IN A QUALITY OVER QUANTITY INVESTIGATIVE APPROACH.
Abstract
TRADITIONALLY, THE BUREAU HAS MANAGED ITS INVESTIGATIVE STAFF ON A QUANTITATIVE CASELOAD RATHER THAN ON A QUALITATIVE BASIS. RECOGNIZING THE LIMITATIONS OF THIS METHOD, THE BUREAU IMPLEMENTED A QUALITATIVE APPROACH, CONCENTRATING ON PRIORITY CASES. THERE WERE STILL PROBLEMS, HOWEVER, WITH THIS APPROACH. CLEAR DEFINITIONS OF QUALITATIVE CASEWORK AND PRIORITY CASES WERE LACKING. ADDITIONAL DATA AND COORDINATION WITH U.S. ATTORNEYS WERE NEEDED. ACCOMPLISHMENT STATISTICS ARE THE BUREAU'S ONLY SYSTEMATICALLY RECORDED INFORMATION ON INVESTIGATIVE RESULTS. THEY CONSIST OF CONVICTIONS, FINES, SAVINGS, RECOVERIES, AND FUGITIVE LOCATIONS. THESE STATISTICS WERE MISLEADING, HOWEVER, BECAUSE THE FORMAT USED DID NOT EXPLAIN WHAT THE STATISTICS MEANT AND HOW DOLLAR VALUES WERE DETERMINED. CRITERIA WERE NOT ESTABLISHED PERTAINING TO HOW ACCOMPLISHMENTS WERE TO BE CLAIMED BY FIELD OFFICES, AND MANY OF THE STATISTICS INVOLVED CASE CLOSINGS THAT RESULTED FROM INVESTIGATIONS IN WHICH ANOTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY HAD MADE A MAJOR BUT UNRECOGNIZED CONTRIBUTION AND INCLUDED CASES THAT WERE EITHER INACCURATELY REPORTED OR DUPLICATED IN OTHER STATISTICS. IN RESPONSE TO THIS PROBLEM, THE BUREAU DEVELOPED A NEW INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM TO ALLOCATE RESOURCES MORE EFFICIENTLY. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MAKE SURE THAT THE INFORMATION SYSTEM IS CLOSELY MONITORED, THAT U.S. ATTORNEYS AND FIELD OFFICES ESTABLISH AND PURSUE MUTUAL PRIORITIES, AND THAT DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND FBI HEADQUARTERS OFFICIALS MEET REGULARLY TO DISCUSS WAYS TO MAKE FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT MORE EFFECTIVE. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--DJM)