New GAO Studies Released

     - by Brenda Grantland, Esq., -- F.E.A.R. Chronicles, Vol 1.
No. 5, (November, 1992)

     The U.S. General Accounting Office, an agency of Congress that
monitors waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in governmental
agencies has recently released two reports dealing with the federal
asset forfeiture program.

     On July 16, 1992, GAO released Asset Forfeiture:  Improved
Guidelines Needed for Use of Shared Assets, GAO/GGD-92-115.  The
August 1992 catalog of GAO Reports & Testimony describes the report
as follows:  

     State and local law enforcement agencies, which cooperate with
the federal government in these seizures, are eligible for a share
of the forfeited assets.  The 15 state and local law enforcement
agencies GAO visited used shared assets to pay for everything from
helicopters to new crime laboratory equipment to salaries. 
Although Justice and Customs program guidance requires state and
local agencies to use shared assets strictly for law enforcement
purposes, acceptable uses under the guidance can be broadly
interpreted, leading to, in GAO's opinion, questionable
expenditures.

Tax Administration:  IRS' Management of Seized Assets, a statement
by Jennie S. Stathis, Director of the Tax Policy and Administration
Issues Office of GAO, was released September 24, 1992.  Its
citation is GAO/T-GGD-92-65.  This report was discussed in the
story "House Ways & Means Committee & GAO Report IRS Mismanagement
of Seized Assets", on page __ of this newsletter. 

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