The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ and Federal
Bureau of Investigation’s Arson and Explosives Intelligence Databases

Audit Report 05-01
October 2004
Office of the Inspector General

Does your agency report arson or explosives incidents, or both, to a federal agency? YES NO 46 2 To which federal agencies do you normally report incidents? ATF FBI OTHER (BOTH) NONE 13 17 16 2 How do you decide to which agency you report arson or explosives incidents? Responses varied Separate Questions and Responses about the ATF Has your agency ever requested information about arson and explosive incidents from the ATF for investigative purposes? YES NO N/A 21 24 3 How often have you contacted the FBI's Bomb Data Center in the past 12 months? Responses varied How do you typically request the information?20 MAIL FAX PHONE E-MAIL OTHER 0 4 14 6 6 How was the information typically provided to you? MAIL FAX PHONE E-MAIL OTHER 7 4 11 11 5 How long did it take you to receive the requested information? Responses varied What was the nature of the information requested? Responses varied How helpful was the information with your investigation?21 ESSENTIAL VERY HELPFUL SOMEWHAT HELPFUL NOT HELPFUL 2 14 3 0 What suggestions do you have about improving the way you provide information to or get information from the ATF? Responses varied Separate Questions and Responses about the FBI Has your agency ever requested information about arson and explosive incidents from the FBI for investigative purposes? YES NO N/A 16 26 6 How often have you contacted the FBI's Bomb Data Center in the past 12 months? Responses varied How do you typically request the information?22 MAIL FAX PHONE E-MAIL OTHER 2 2 9 7 4 How was the information typically provided to you? MAIL FAX PHONE E-MAIL OTHER 4 2 6 9 2 How long did it take you to receive the requested information? Responses varied What was the nature of the information requested? Responses varied How helpful was the information with your investigation?23 ESSENTIAL VERY HELPFUL SOMEWHAT HELPFUL NOT HELPFUL 1 9 2 0 What suggestions do you have about improving the way you provide information to or get information from the FBI? Responses varied Footnotes Responses to question numbers 3 and 4 exceed the 20 "yes" responses to question 1 because some agencies indicated they reported to both the ATF and the FBI. The number of responses to this question is less than 20 because the question was not applicable for one agency. Responses to question numbers 3 and 4 exceed the 16 "yes" responses to question 1 because some agencies indicated they reported to both the ATF and the FBI. The number of responses to this question is less than 16 because some agencies did not indicate how helpful the information was with their investigation, or the question was not applicable.