Follow-Up Audit of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Forensic Science Laboratories Workload Management

Audit Report 06-15
March 2006
Office of the Inspector General

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY INTRODUCTION History and Mission The Office of Laboratory Services National Laboratory Center Regional Forensic Science Laboratories Laboratory Services Operating Plan Prior Audit FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Workload Management Background Timeliness of Completed Examinations Quality Assurance Effects on Investigations Backlog of Examination Requests Inability to Hire Sufficient Staff Other Duties Outside the Laboratories Priority System Case File Management Controls Conclusion Recommendations STATEMENT ON INTERNAL CONTROLS STATEMENT ON COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND REGULATIONS APPENDICES: OBJECTIVES, SCOPE, AND METHODOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY OIG’s FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS, AND ATF MANAGEMENT’S RESPONSE VACANT POSITIONS AT THE THREE FORENSIC SCIENCE LABORATORIES AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2005 ATF EVIDENCE TRANSMITTAL FORM CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CARD THE ATF’S RESPONSE TO THE DRAFT REPORT OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL’S ANALYSIS AND SUMMARY OF ACTIONS NECESSARY TO CLOSE REPORT