NCJ Number
156553
Date Published
1995
Length
42 pages
Annotation
The General Accounting Office (GAO) reviewed the Department of Justice's policy on Federal fugitive apprehension; this policy identifies fugitive apprehension responsibilities of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) and establishes conditions and coordination procedures for exceptions to these responsibilities.
Abstract
The GAO focused on determining the extent and nature of interagency coordination problems among FBI, DEA, USMS, and other Federal agencies involved in fugitive investigations and on what actions had been or could be taken to address such problems. Officials contacted in the course of the GAO review reported they did not have extensive interagency coordination problems in the fugitive apprehension area. Nonetheless, the GAO identified some interagency coordination problems that could adversely affect the efficiency and effectiveness of Federal fugitive apprehension efforts. These problems primarily involved failure of the FBI and the USMS to participate in each other's fugitive task forces, disagreements over responsibility for prison escapes involving possible conspiracy charges, and failure to cooperate in efforts to capture fugitives from other countries. During the GAO review, FBI and USMS officials took or began taking actions to improve interagency coordination. Similarly, USMS officials said they would address coordination issues with other agencies regarding postarrest fugitives. Supplemental information is appended on the scope and methodology of the GAO review, key provisions of the Department of Justice's policy on fugitive apprehension, FBI and USMS fugitive apprehension responsibilities, Federal fugitive cases, offense types for which Federal fugitives are wanted, and dangerous Federal fugitives. 11 footnotes