April 1, 2003–September 30, 2003
Office of the Inspector General

OTHER DEPARTMENT COMPONENTS

U.S. Marshals Service

The USMS is responsible for protecting the federal judiciary, transporting federal prisoners, protecting endangered federal witnesses, managing assets seized from criminal enterprises, and pursuing and arresting federal fugitives. The director and deputy director of the USMS work with 94 U.S. marshals, each appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, to direct the activities of 95 district offices and approximately 4,000 staff stationed at more than 350 locations throughout the 50 states, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

INVESTIGATIONS

The following is one of the cases investigated during this reporting period that involved the USMS:

• A deputy U.S. marshal assigned to the USMS's District of New Jersey's Asset Forfeiture Unit and his brother were convicted in the District of New Jersey on charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States, false statements, embezzlement, and mail fraud. An investigation by the New York Field Office developed information that the deputy U.S. marshal, while serving as the chief of the Asset Forfeiture Unit, disposed of forfeited vehicles and real estate in violation of USMS policy by selling them at a reduced price to family members and friends for cash.

ONGOING WORK

PRISONER MEDICAL CARE

The USMS is responsible for providing medical care to the roughly 40,000 prisoners it has in its custody at any given time. The objectives of this audit are to determine whether (1) the USMS is providing prisoners necessary health care, (2) the USMS is screening and treating prisoners for communicable diseases, (3) prisoner medical costs are necessary and reasonable, and (4) the USMS is providing prisoners secure transport to off-site facilities to receive medical treatment.

BUDGET EXECUTION DURING FYS 2002 AND 2003

The primary purpose of the audit is to determine whether the USMS executed its appropriated budgets for FYs 2002 and 2003 in accordance with congressional instructions.

ADMINISTRATION OF THE WITNESS SECURITY PROGRAM

The OIG is reviewing the USMS's administration of the Witness Security Program to evaluate plans and strategies for achieving the program's stated security objectives, controls for witness safety, and controls for financial activities, including payments to protected witnesses and their families.

THE JUDICIAL SECURITY PROGRAM

The OIG is assessing the USMS's actions since September 11, 2001, to improve its Judicial Security Program. This review focuses primarily on the USMS's efforts to identify, assess, and mitigate threats and terrorism risks against members of the federal judiciary.

U.S. Attorneys' Offices

U.S. Attorneys serve as the federal government's principal criminal and civil litigators and conduct most of the trial work in which the United States is a party. Under the direction of the Attorney General, 93 U.S. Attorneys are stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands. More than 11,500 employees work in those offices and in the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys (EOUSA).

ONGOING WORK

CRITICAL INCIDENT RESPONSE PLANS

To maximize the USAOs' ability to respond quickly and appropriately to critical incidents, the Attorney General directed each USAO to develop a critical incident response plan. This review is examining whether the plans have been developed and submitted to the EOUSA as required. The review also is assessing the level of training and support provided to the USAOs in developing the plans and efforts the USAOs made to test the plans to ensure their effectiveness.

PAYMENTS TO VENDORS

The OIG is reviewing the USAOs' controls and procedures over the purchase and payment for goods and services using third-party drafts, government purchase cards, electronic fund transfers, or Treasury checks to ensure that vendor payments are made according to the policies prescribed by the EOUSA and federal regulations.

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

The ATF is responsible for the enforcement of the federal laws relating to firearms, explosives, and arson and administers the U.S. Criminal Code provisions concerning alcohol and tobacco smuggling and diversion. It also seeks to combat terrorism, prevent crime, conduct fair and effective industry regulation and provides training and expertise to federal, state, local, and international law enforcement partners. The Homeland Security Act of 2002 transferred these enforcement activities, along with certain other functions, to the Department of Justice from the Department of the Treasury. The ATF's approximately 4,800 special agents, inspectors, regulatory specialists, forensic auditors, laboratory technicians, and other personnel work primarily in 23 field divisions across the 50 states and in offices in Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Canada, Colombia, and France.

ONGOING WORK

THE FEDERAL FIREARMS LICENSEE INSPECTION PROGRAM

The OIG is examining the effectiveness of ATF's enforcement of federal firearms laws through its federal firearms licensee inspection program and the extent to which the program prevents the illegal transfer of firearms to those prohibited from having them. The review is assessing whether the program is effectively ensuring compliance with federal firearms laws and how program violations are identified and corrected.