Semiannual Report to Congress

October 1, 2010 – March 31, 2011
Office of the Inspector General


Other Department Components

Photo of Justice building

Civil Rights Division

Ongoing Work

Enforcement of Civil Rights Laws by the Voting Section

The OIG is reviewing the enforcement of civil rights laws by the Voting Section of the Department’s Civil Rights Division. The review is examining the types of cases brought by the Voting Section and any changes in the types of cases over time; any changes in Voting Section enforcement policies or procedures over time; whether the Voting Section has enforced the civil rights laws in a non-discriminatory manner; and whether any Voting Section employees have been harassed for participating in the investigation or prosecution of particular matters.


Office of Community Oriented Policing Services

Reports Issued

Audits of COPS Grants

COPS logo

COPS awards grants to state, local, territory, and tribal law enforcement agencies to hire and train community policing professionals, acquire and deploy crime-fighting technologies, and develop and test policing strategies. During this reporting period, we audited an external COPS grant recipient. The results of that audit are summarized below:

Investigations

The following is an example of a case handled by the OIG’s Investigation Division during this reporting period:

Criminal Division

Reports Issued

Equitable Sharing Audits

Under the Department’s Asset Forfeiture Program, state and local law enforcement agencies receive equitable sharing assets when participating directly with the Department’s law enforcement components in joint investigations that lead to the seizure or forfeiture of cash and property. Equitable sharing revenues represent a share of the proceeds from the forfeiture of assets seized in the course of certain criminal investigations.

During this reporting period, the OIG examined the use of equitable sharing revenues by the Doraville Police Department (Police Department) in Doraville, Georgia. The Police Department received $1,755,825 in equitable sharing revenues for FYs 2008 through 2010 to support law enforcement operations. Our audit found that the Police Department generally complied with the agreement and certification requirements, equitable sharing guidelines regarding accounting for equitable sharing receipts, and use of equitably shared property and funds. We recommended that the Criminal Division ensure that the Police Department comply with program policies and procedures for travel-related expenditures.

Ongoing Work

The Criminal Division’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance, and Training and the International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program

The Criminal Division’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance, and Training (OPDAT), and the International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP) provide training and technical assistance to foreign countries’ prosecutors, judicial personnel, and law enforcement personnel. Our audit is reviewing the programs’ controls and practices relating to funding, training, security, personnel, and property, as well as the programs’ coordination with other U.S. agencies and foreign components.

Environment and Natural Resources Division

Ongoing Work

Superfund Activities

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (known as CERCLA or Superfund), which was expanded by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, established the Superfund program to clean up the nation’s worst hazardous waste sites. CERCLA seeks to ensure that individuals or organizations responsible for the improper disposal of hazardous waste bear the costs for their actions. The OIG is reviewing FY 2009 and 2010 Superfund activities relating to the costs incurred by the Environment and Natural Resources Division in litigating Superfund cases. The audit will determine whether the Division provided an equitable distribution of total labor costs, other direct costs, and indirect costs to Superfund cases during FYs 2009 and 2010.

Executive Office for Immigration Review

Ongoing Work

Administration of Immigration Courts

The OIG is examining the Executive Office for Immigration Review’s (EOIR) efforts to manage the pending caseload in its immigration courts. This includes analyzing characteristics of the caseload, such as case types and case ages, along with evaluating case processing methodology. The OIG will also report on EOIR’s implementation of reform measures designed to improve the performance of immigration judges and the Board of Immigration Appeals.

Office of the Pardon Attorney

Ongoing Work

Audit of the Department‘s Processing of Clemency Petitions

The OIG is examining the Office of the Pardon Attorney’s procedures for processing clemency petitions.

U.S. Attorneys’ Offices

Investigations

The following are examples of cases that the OIG’s Investigations Division handled during this reporting period:

Office on Violence Against Women

Reports Issued

Audits of OVW Grants

The OVW administers financial and technical assistance to communities across the country for the development of programs, policies, and practices aimed at ending domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. OVW recipients include state and local governments, universities, non-profit agencies, and for-profit agencies. During this reporting period, the OIG conducted two audits of OVW grant recipients. The results of an OVW grant recipient audit are summarized below:

 


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