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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

DOJ Seal

FY2003 Budget Summary

ASSETS FORFEITURE FUND
Special Fund
(Dollars in thousands)
Perm Pos. FTE Amount
2001 Actuals:
   Appropriated Definite Authority
...
...
$20,895
Permanent Indefinite Authority  1/
...
...
515,472
2002 Appropriation: 
Appropriated Definite Obligational Authority 
...
...
22,949
Permanent Indefinite Obligational Authority
...
...
522,479
2003 Current Services 
Appropriated Definite Obligational Authority 
...
...
22,949
Permanent Indefinite Obligational Authority
...
...
451,696
2003 Request: 
Appropriated Definite Obligational Authority
...
...
22,949
Permanent Indefinite Obligational Authority
...
...
451,696

1/ The 2001 Permanent Indefinite Authority of $518,282,000 includes $49,153,000 in  Super Surplus obligations.

2002 Appropriation2003 Current Services2003 RequestProgram Improvements
Comparison by activity and programPerm PosFTEAmount Perm PosFTEAmount Perm PosFTEAmount Perm PosFTEAmount
1.Appropriated Definite Authority:
 
  Investigative Expenses
...
...
$22,949
...
...
$22,949
...
...
$22,949
...
...
...
2.Permanent Indefinite Obligational Authority
...
...
522,479
...
...
451,696
...
...
451,696
...
...
...
Total
...
...
545,428
...
...
474,645
...
...
474,645
...
...
...

Program Description
The primary purpose of the Fund is to provide a stable source of resources to cover the costs of an effective asset seizure and forfeiture program, including the costs of seizing, evaluating, inventorying, maintaining, protecting, advertising, forfeiting, and disposing of property. Prior to the creation of the Fund, costs of these activities had to be diverted from agency operational funds. Receipts (permanent indefinite authority) are available to pay program operations expenses, equitable sharing to state and local law enforcement agencies who assist in forfeiture cases, and lienholders. If provided for in the Department's Appropriations Act, a portion of Fund receipts (appropriated, definite authority) are available to pay investigative expenses, including awards for information, purchase of evidence, and equipping of conveyances. Excess unobligated balances of the Fund designated as Super Surplus are available to support federal investigative, litigative, or correctional expenses or other authorized purposes of the Department of Justice. The Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act of 2000 made various changes to federal laws relating to the forfeiture of civil assets that are expected to decrease receipts deposited into the Assets Forfeiture Fund significantly over the next two to three fiscal years.

This year Fund resources are being presented as obligational authority rather than budget authority because the obligational authority concept more accurately depicts revolving fund activity.

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