DOJ Component Information:Assets Forfeiture Fund (Permanent Indefinite Special Fund)

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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

FY2004 Budget Summary

ASSETS FORFEITURE FUND
Special Fund
(Dollars in thousands)

Pos. FTE Amount

2002 Obligations

     Appropriated Definite Authority.. ... ... $18,366

     Permanent Indefinite Authority 1/ ... ... 423,660

2003 President's Budget Request

      Appropriated Definite Obligational Authority.. ... ... 22,949

     Permanent Indefinite Obligational Authority ... ... 501,455

2004 Current Services

     Appropriated Definite Obligational Authority.. ... ... 22,949

     Permanent Indefinite Obligational Authority ... ... 426,121

2004 Request

     Appropriated Definite Obligational Authority.. ... ... 22,949

     Permanent Indefinite Obligational Authority ... ... 426,121

        1/ The 2001 Permanent Indefinite Authority of $423,695,000 includes $21 ,977,000 in Super Surplus obligations.

2003 President's Budget Request 2004 Current Services 2004 Request Program Improvements

Comparison by activity and program Perm
Pos. FTE Amount Perm
Pos. FTE Amount Perm
Pos. FTE Amount Perm
Pos. FTE Amount

     1. Appropriated Definite Authority: Investigative Expenses ... ... $22,949 ... ... $22,949 ... ... $22,949 ... ... ...

     2. Permanent Indefinite Obligational Authority ... ... 501,455 ... ... 426,121 ... ... 426,121 ... ... ...

          Total ... ... 524,404 ... ... 449,070 ... ... 449,070 ... ... ...

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 law enforcement, litigative/prosecutive, and correctional expenses or any other authorized purposes of the Department of Justice.

The Treasury Forfeiture Fund and the Assets Forfeiture Fund are being consolidated in 2004. Proposed legislation to effect the consolidation will follow. Amounts above do not reflect the Treasury Forfeiture Fund obligation estimate of $240,000,000.

The Homeland Security Act of 2002 transferred the enforcement responsibilities of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) from the Department of the Treasury to the Department of Justice. The ATF became a member of the Assets Forfeiture Fund in January 2003.

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	Pos.	FTE	Amount
2002 Obligations
Appropriated Definite Authority..	...	...	$18,366
Permanent Indefinite Authority 1/	...	...	423,660
2003 President's Budget Request
Appropriated Definite Obligational Authority..	...	...	22,949
Permanent Indefinite Obligational Authority	...	...	501,455
2004 Current Services
Appropriated Definite Obligational Authority..	...	...	22,949
Permanent Indefinite Obligational Authority	...	...	426,121
2004 Request
Appropriated Definite Obligational Authority..	...	...	22,949
Permanent Indefinite Obligational Authority	...	...	426,121
1/ The 2001 Permanent Indefinite Authority of $423,695,000 includes $21 ,977,000 in Super Surplus obligations.

	2003 President's Budget Request	2004 Current Services	2004 Request	Program Improvements
Comparison by activity and program	Perm Pos.	FTE	Amount	Perm Pos.	FTE	Amount	Perm Pos.	FTE	Amount	Perm Pos.	FTE	Amount
1. Appropriated Definite Authority: Investigative Expenses	...	...	$22,949	...	...	$22,949	...	...	$22,949	...	...	...
2. Permanent Indefinite Obligational Authority	...	...	501,455	...	...	426,121	...	...	426,121	...	...	...
Total	...	...	524,404	...	...	449,070	...	...	449,070	...	...	...

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 law enforcement, litigative/prosecutive, and correctional expenses or any other authorized purposes of the Department of Justice.
The Treasury Forfeiture Fund and the Assets Forfeiture Fund are being consolidated in 2004. Proposed legislation to effect the consolidation will follow. Amounts above do not reflect the Treasury Forfeiture Fund obligation estimate of $240,000,000.
The Homeland Security Act of 2002 transferred the enforcement responsibilities of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) from the Department of the Treasury to the Department of Justice. The ATF became a member of the Assets Forfeiture Fund in January 2003.

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