DEPARTMENT
OF JUSTICE
ASSETS FORFEITURE FUND
Special Fund
(Dollars in thousands)
| Perm. Pos. | FTE | Amount | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 actuals: | ||||
| Appropriated Definite Authority | ... | ... | $19,397 | |
| Permanent Indefinite Authority 1 | ... | ... | 462,924 | |
| 2001 enacted | ||||
| Appropriated Definite Authority | ... | ... | 23,000 | |
| Permanent Indefinite Authority | ... | ... | 439,838 | |
| Government-wide .22% rescission of Appropriated Definite Authority pursuant to P.L. 106-554 | ... | ... | (51) | |
| Re-estimate of Permanent Indefinite Authority | ... | ... | 179,359 | |
| 2001 appropriation | ||||
| Appropriated Definite Authority | ... | ... | 22,949 | |
| Permanent Indefinite Authority | ... | ... | 619,197 | |
| 2002 base | ||||
| Appropriated Definite Authority | ... | ... | 22,949 | |
| Permanent Indefinite Authority | ... | ... | 432,051 | |
| 2002 estimate | ||||
| Appropriated Definite Authority | ... | ... | 22,949 | |
| Permanent Indefinite Authority | ... | ... | 432,051 | |
1 The 2000 Permanent Indefinite Authority of $462,924,000 includes $30,433,131 in Super Surplus obligations.
| 2001 Appropriation | 2002 Base | 2002 Estimate | Program Changes | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Budget Authority | ... | ... | 619,197 | ... | ... | 432,051 | ... | ... | 432,051 | ... | ... | ... | |
| Total | ... | ... | 642,146 | ... | ... | 455,000 | ... | ... | 455,000 | ... | ... | ... | |
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.