United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office General Government Division author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 1996-03-19 monographic deposited born digital 18 p. GA 1.13:T-GGD-96-40 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-T-GGD-96-40 P0b002ee18037a14a f:gg96040t DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-T-GGD-96-40 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-T-GGD-96-40 T-GGD-96-40 Search and seizure Interagency relations Property disposal Law enforcement Inventory control systems Federal property management Assets Federal agency accounting systems Funds management Customs Service Seized Asset Program DOJ Seized Asset Management System Seized Asset Deposit Fund DOJ National Asset Seizure and Forfeiture Program DOJ/Treasury Consolidated Asset Tracking System Customs Forfeiture Fund DOJ Assets Forfeiture Fund Treasury Asset Forfeiture Fund Treasury Seized Asset and Case Tracking System Testimony GGD

GAO discussed the Departments of Justice's and Treasury's asset forfeiture programs. GAO noted that: (1) the asset forfeiture programs present a high risk for abuse and fraud because of program mismanagement and internal control weaknesses; (2) Marshals Service mismanagement, ineffective oversight, slow disposition, and poor recordkeeping of seized property has resulted in excessive costs and millions of dollars in lost revenue; (3) the Justice asset forfeiture program lacks closing procedures to ensure the proper recording of all seized property in its property management system; (4) the Customs asset forfeiture program lacks adequate safeguards over seized property and has incomplete and inaccurate accounting and reporting of seized property; (5) the agencies have made many improvements to their asset forfeiture programs, agencies need to additionally enhance their tracking systems and to develop and implement policies and procedures to ensure proper accountability for and stewardship over seized property; and (6) although consolidating the management and disposition of seized assets could reduce administrative costs and duplicative efforts, the agencies cite legislative acts and federal reporting requirements as barriers to developing a joint plan for consolidation. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-T-GGD-96-40/html/GAOREPORTS-T-GGD-96-40.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-T-GGD-96-40/pdf/GAOREPORTS-T-GGD-96-40.pdf GAO/T-GGD-96-40 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-T-GGD-96-40 Testimony GAO/T-GGD-96-40; Asset Forfeiture: Historical Perspective on Asset Forfeiture Issues; Search and seizure Interagency relations Property disposal Law enforcement Inventory control systems Federal property management Assets Federal agency accounting systems Funds management Customs Service Seized Asset Program DOJ Seized Asset Management System Seized Asset Deposit Fund DOJ National Asset Seizure and Forfeiture Program DOJ/Treasury Consolidated Asset Tracking System Customs Forfeiture Fund DOJ Assets Forfeiture Fund Treasury Asset Forfeiture Fund Treasury Seized Asset and Case Tracking System Title 21 Section 887 21 U.S.C. 887 Title 31 Section 9703 31 U.S.C. 9703 Public Law 100-690 Public Law 102-393