NCJ Number
151581
Date Published
1991
Length
26 pages
Annotation
Asset forfeiture programs of the Department of Justice and the U.S. Customs Service are discussed.
Abstract
This report addresses key U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) property management activities and USMS district compliance with policies and procedures in managing high value commercial real properties, i.e., those properties valued at $1 million or more at the time of seizure. The commercial properties reviewed were in inventory as of May 25, 1990, or disposed of between September 1988 and May 1990. Results of the review, conducted between June 1990 and October 1990, revealed that for the high value properties reviewed, USMS districts did not always adhere to key property management policies and procedures and internal control practices varied. USMS districts did not always: document title search information; maintain up-to-date and accurate property information; prepare decision documents on significant properties; obtain property appraisals; or provide effective oversight of property managers. The districts' failure to always carry out these activities for high value commercial properties led to situations in which the government lost or was at risk of losing money on properties worth millions of dollars. Reasons given for these failures include inadequate staffing, inadequate training, inadequate guidance regarding roles and responsibilities for seizure and management of commercial real property, and insufficient regional oversight of district offices to ensure that districts complied with the program's policies and procedures. Comments from the Department of Justice are included in an appendix. A listing of major contributors to the report is contained in a second appendix.