The Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984 established the Department of
Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund to receive the proceeds of forfeiture and to
pay the costs associated with such forfeitures, including the costs of managing
and disposing of property, satisfying valid liens, mortgages, and other
innocent owner claims, and costs associated with accomplishing the legal
forfeiture of the property.
The Attorney General is authorized
to use the Assets Forfeiture Fund to pay any necessary expenses associated with
forfeiture operations such as property seizure, detention, management, forfeiture,
and disposal. The Fund may also be used to finance certain general investigative
expenses. These authorized uses are enumerated in 28 U.S.C. §524(c).
- Asset Management and Disposal
- Third-Party Interests
- Equitable Sharing Payments
- Case-Related Expenses
- ADP Equipment
- Special Contract Services
- Training and Printing
- Other Program Operations
- Storage, Protection, and Destruction of Controlled Substances
- Contracts to Identify Forfeitable Assets
- Awards Based on Forfeiture
- Awards for Information
- Purchase of Evidence
- Equipping of Conveyances
- Joint Law Enforcement Operations
Forfeiture Operations Expenses
Forfeiture operation expenses are costs associated with the day-to-day management
and execution of the forfeiture program. The majority of costs incurred each year
are in direct support of the forfeiture program.
1. Asset Management and Disposal
These are expenses incurred in connection with the seizure, inventory, appraisal,
packaging, movement, storage, maintenance, security, and disposition of property
(including destruction of contraband). Asset management expenses may also include
payment of contract services to operate and manage properties, or provide other
specialized services as necessary to manage and/or dispose of such properties.
If the asset is currently an operating business, normal and customary expenses
for operations are asset management expenses only to the extent they are not covered
by business income.
2. Third-Party Interests
These are expenses incurred in payment of valid liens, secured mortgages, return
of property interest to qualifying victims, and debts owed to qualified general
creditors pursuant to court orders or favorable rulings on petitions for forfeiture
remission or mitigation. This includes the restoration of proceeds of sales pursuant
to court orders or administrative determinations.
3. Equitable Sharing Payments
These expenses are amounts paid to state and local law enforcement agencies and
foreign governments for assistance in forfeiture cases. Equitable sharing payments
must reflect the degree of direct participation in law enforcement efforts resulting
in forfeiture.
4. Case-Related Expenses
These are expenses incurred in connection with normal forfeiture proceedings.
They include fees, advertising costs, court reporting and deposition fees, expert
witness fees, courtroom exhibit costs, travel, and subsistence costs related to
a specific proceeding. If the case involves real property, the costs to retain
attorneys or other specialists under state real property law are also covered.
In addition, the Deputy Attorney General may approve expenses for retention of
foreign counsel.
5. ADP Equipment
These are expenses for purchasing/leasing automatic data processing equipment
utilized primarily for Program-related work.
6. Special Contract Services
These expenses are for contract services that support services directly related
to the processing, data entry, and accounting for forfeiture cases.
7. Training and Printing
Expenses for training personnel on any aspect of the federal forfeiture program
as well as other training necessary to maintain the competency of federal and
contractor personnel dedicated to performing federal forfeiture functions. Printing
expenses are to be associated with forfeiture training and performance of forfeiture
functions.
8. Other Program Operations
These expenses are incurred for the forfeiture related costs that an office needs
to operate, such as supplies, equipment, rent, travel, and other services, e.g.,
experts and consultants hired to assist in financial, property, or program audits,
etc.
9. Storage, Protection, and Destruction of Controlled Substances
These expenses are incurred to store, protect and/or destroy controlled substances.
10. Contracts to Identify Forfeitable Assets
These expenses are incurred in the effort of identifying assets by accessing commercial
database services. Also included in this section is the procurement of contractor
assistance needed to trace the proceeds of crime into assets subject to forfeiture.
11. Awards Based on Forfeiture
These expenses are for the payment of awards for information or assistance leading
to a civil or criminal forfeiture.
General Investigative Expenses
Investigative expenses are payments to reimburse any Federal agency participating
in the Fund for investigative costs.
1. Awards for Information
These expenses are for awards for information or assistance directly relating
to violations of the criminal drug laws of the United States or of sections 1956
and 1957 of title 18, sections 5313 and 5324 of title 31, and section 6050I of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. There is no requirement that the information
provided have any relationship to a civil or criminal forfeiture under federal
law.
2. Purchase of Evidence
These expenses are for the purchase of evidence of violations of the Controlled
Substances Act, Controlled Substances Import and Export Act, the Racketeer Influenced
and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), or 18 USC 1956-1957.
3. Equipping of Conveyances
These expenses are incurred to equip, for any law enforcement function, any Government
owned or leased conveyance available for official use by federal law enforcement
agencies participating in the AFF.
4. Joint Law Enforcement Operations
These expenses are for the various costs incurred by state and local law enforcement
officers participating in joint law enforcement operations with a federal agency
participating in the Fund.
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