Federal Bureau of Investigation Legal Attaché Program*

Report No. 04-18
March 2004
Office of the Inspector General


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Table of Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
History of the Legal Attaché Program
The Legal Attaché Program Today
Legal Attaché Staff
FBI and Legal Attaché Priorities
Activities of Legal Attachés
Audit Approach
CHAPTER 2: LEGAT OFFICE AND COUNTRY INFORMATION
Legat Ottawa
Legat Berlin
Legat Pretoria
Legat Tokyo
CHAPTER 3: LEGAT INVESTIGATIVE ACTIVITIES
Legats' Process for Responding to Investigative Leads
Legats Have Coped With Sizeable Rise in Leads
Review of Pending Leads at Four Offices
Backlog of Pending Leads in Ottawa
Ottawa Backlog Previously Reported by FBI Inspection Division
Actions Taken by FBI Have Yet to Fully Address the Backlog
Controls Over Temporary Duty Travel Need Improvement
Conclusions
Recommendations
CHAPTER 4: LIAISON ACTIVITIES WERE EFFECTIVE AT THE LEGAL ATTACHÉ OFFICES REVIEWED
Details of Liaison Activity and Accomplishments by Office
Conclusion
Recommendation
CHAPTER 5: LEGAL ATTACHÉ OFFICES COORDINATE ACTIVITIES WITH OTHER U.S. LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES OVERSEAS
U.S. Law Enforcement Presence in American Embassies
Overlapping Jurisdictions Create a Potential for Conflict
The Role of the U.S. Ambassador
Legal Attachés Coordinate and Collaborate With Other U.S. Law Enforcement Representatives
Conclusion
CHAPTER 6: FBI OVERSIGHT OF THE LEGAL ATTACHÉ PROGRAM APPEARS ADEQUATE
FBI Justification for Establishing and Maintaining Offices
Oversight of Offices
Conclusion
CHAPTER 7: SELECTION AND TRAINING OF LEGAL ATTACHÉ STAFF
Process for Selecting Candidates for Legat Positions
FBI Acknowledged Some Past Staffing Decisions Could Have Been Better
Misconduct by Some Legat Staff is a Concern
Increasing Recognition of the Value of Legat Experience
Pre-Deployment and Foreign Language Training for Legat Staff
Some Legat Staff Remain Abroad For Long Periods of Time
Conclusion
Recommendations
STATEMENT ON MANAGEMENT CONTROLS
STATEMENT ON COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND REGULATIONS
APPENDIX I: AUDIT OBJECTIVES, SCOPE, AND METHODOLOGY
APPENDIX II: LISTING OF FOREIGN AGENCIES CONTACTED
APPENDIX III: LISTING OF U.S. AGENCIES CONTACTED AT U.S. EMBASSIES AND CONSULATES
APPENDIX IV: FBI LEGAL ATTACHÉ OFFICES AND SUB-OFFICES FISCAL YEAR 2003 STAFFING LEVELS
APPENDIX V: RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE FBI INSPECTION DIVISION REPORT ON LEGAL ATTACHÉ PRE-DEPLOYMENT TRAINING
APPENDIX VI: FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION RESPONSE
APPENDIX VII: OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL, AUDIT DIVISION ANALYSIS AND SUMMARY OF ACTIONS NECESSARY TO CLOSE THE REPORT
* BECAUSE THIS REPORT CONTAINED INFORMATION CLASSIFIED AS "SECRET" BY THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, WE REDACTED (WHITED OUT) THAT INFORMATION FROM THE VERSION OF THE REPORT THAT IS BEING PUBLICLY RELEASED. WHERE SUCH INFORMATION WAS REDACTED IS NOTED IN THE REPORT.
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