NCJ Number
158940
Date Published
1988
Length
13 pages
Annotation
The primary purpose of the Department of Justice's Assets Forfeiture Fund is to ensure an adequate and appropriate source of funding for expenses associated with seizing and forfeiting illegally acquired property from drug dealers and racketeers.
Abstract
Income to the fund from forfeited cash and proceeds from the sale of forfeited property is used to pay for the costs of seizure and forfeiture. The fund has had an extremely positive impact on the Department of Justice's forfeiture efforts, as indicated by a summary of financial activity for fiscal year 1988. The Attorney General is authorized to sell property forfeited under laws enforced or administered by the Department of Justice and can also retain forfeited property for official use or transfer forfeited property to another government agency (Federal, State, or local) that directly participated in the seizure or forfeiture. The Department of Justice is authorized to seize cash, and department policies stipulate when seized cash can be used as evidence in a criminal trial. Data are tabulated on fund income and expenses for fiscal year 1988. Appendixes contain additional information on the fund and the value of seized property. 2 tables