ACTION PLAN
Follow-up Audit of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Laboratory Operations
Recommendations |
Action Planned |
Projected Completion Date |
1. Consider allocating DEA resources for additional fingerprint and digital evidence positions that would support turnaround times comparable to those for drug services. |
DEA’s Office of Forensic Sciences (SF) will continue to pursue additional positions for both programs. |
3/31/2007 |
2. Ensure that supervisors of fingerprint specialists are qualified and experienced in the analysis of latent fingerprints. |
Pursue positions for this purpose. In the interim, more technical oversight responsibilities will be given to the Senior Fingerprint Specialists in each laboratory. |
3/31/2007 |
3. Provide direct access to additional local, state, and regional latent print databases for matching latent prints, |
Finalize the identification of local databases to determine which would be most beneficial, obtain funding and complete the connection. |
12/31/2005 |
4. Provide detailed instructions and training for agents to ensure they properly handle and describe exhibits critical for developing latent prints. |
Review and revise curriculum used to train agents regarding fingerprint evidence handling, as appropriate. |
12/31/2004 |
5. Increase the use of DEA fingerprint specialists at appropriate crime scenes. |
Continue to pursue additional positions for the program. |
3/30/2007 |
6. Ensure that potential latent print residues are protected when drug exhibits that will also be analyzed for latent prints are opened and separated. This may involve additional training for chemists and increasing the use of joint decision-making or handling by chemists and fingerprint specialists when exhibits identified as high priority for print analysis are opened and separated. |
Review and revise policy in this area, as appropriate, to maximize the preservation of potential latent print evidence. Provide additional training to chemist staffs regarding the handling of drug packaging to protect latent prints. |
9/30/2004 |
7. Ensure that laboratories use standardized procedures for recording information in data systems to ensure that all types of exhibits are tracked appropriately, and that the new information system will clearly track analysis data and turnaround times for all types of exhibits and analyses. |
Continue to pursue implementation of a Laboratory Information Management System that will track analytical results and provide management reports for all types of evidence. |
9/30/2006 |
8. Ensure that exhibits are destroyed within the 90-day
standard. |
Monitor compliance over the next 12 months. Take additional action, if necessary. |
3/31/2005 |
9. Ensure the Southeast Laboratory is relocated to a suitable
facility as soon as possible. |
Continue to monitor the progress of the building prospectus that General Services Administration (GSA) submitted to OMB. Additional action will be taken as needed. |
3/31/2007 |
10. Ensure that improvements are made to correct the ventilation, [DELETED] problems at the Southeast Laboratory pending relocation. |
Action has been taken by the property manager to correct the ventilation problem. A security survey will be conducted in February 2004 by the Office of Security Programs. Solutions to resolve identified security issues will be explored with the intent of alleviating them prior to the laboratory relocation. |
12/31/2004 |
11. Ensure the ventilation system and fume hood improvements in the Western Laboratory are effective, |
Obtain and review the final report of the industrial hygiene survey that was conducted in March 2003. Additional action will be taken, if necessary. |
9/30/2004 |
12. Ensure that the Southeast Laboratory maintains complete records of requests for services from the leaseholder. |
The Southeast Laboratory Director has been maintaining a complete record of requests for services from the leaseholder. |
1/31/2004 |
13. Press the GSA to enforce all terms of the lease for the Southeast Laboratory. |
GSA has taken action to ensure compliance with the terms of the lease. |
1/31/2004 |
14. [DELETED] |
[DELETED] |
6/30/2004 |
15. [DELETED] |
[DELETED] |
10/31/2004 |