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U.S. Attorneys: Controls Over Grant-Related Activities Should Be Enhanced

GAO-03-733 Published: Jun 10, 2003. Publicly Released: Jun 10, 2003.
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Highlights

Ninety-three U.S. Attorneys serve 94 judicial districts (the same U.S. Attorney serves the District of Guam and the District of the Northern Mariana Islands) under the direction of the Attorney General. Among other things, the Attorney General expects U.S. Attorneys to lead or be involved with the community in preventing and controlling crime including efforts to secure Department of Justice (DOJ) grant funds and work with grantees. This report provides information about the guidance U.S. Attorneys are given in carrying out their responsibilities with regard to DOJ grants. It makes recommendations to assess compliance with guidance and to reduce the potential for conflicts of interest.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Justice The Attorney General should instruct the Director of EOUSA and U.S. Attorneys to take steps to further mitigate the risk associated with U.S. Attorneys Offices' involvement in the grant components of the PSN and Weed and Seed Programs. Specifically, EOUSA and U.S. Attorneys should establish a mechanism to assess and oversee compliance with recently issued guidelines pertaining to the grant activities of U.S. Attorneys Offices and ensure that the guidelines are working as intended.
Closed – Implemented
In August 2003, in response to our recommendation, the Executive Office for United States Attorneys stated that it would require (1) staff involved in grant-related matters to certify that they are free of conflicts of interest and (2) PSN selection committees to certify that they are free of conflicts of interest. In July 2007, USAEO demonstrated that it has established various training programs regarding compliance with its guideline for grant activities. Additionally, USAEO has disseminated forms to Ethics Advisors in 93 offices in direct response to the GAO recommendations. The Ethics Advisors are responsible for ensuring that the forms are completed by all personnel working on Project Safe Neighborhood and Weed and Seed grant programs. The forms (GCO-1, 2, 3) require individuals taking action with regard to PSN and/or Weed and Seed grant applications to certify they are free from conflicts of interest. In addition, USAEO has ensured that there is supervisory review of these forms.
Department of Justice The Attorney General should instruct the Director of EOUSA and U.S. Attorneys to take steps to further mitigate the risk associated with U.S. Attorneys Offices' involvement in the grant components of the PSN and Weed and Seed Programs. Specifically, EOUSA and U.S. Attorneys should require that U.S. Attorneys' staffs who work with community organizations on grant-related matters be required to file financial disclosure reports certifying that they are free from conflicts of interest.
Closed – Implemented
In June 2006, in response to our recommendation, the Executive Office for United States Attorneys reported that it had (1) included grant-related ethics issues in training for U.S. Attorneys Ethics Advisors; (2) conducted mandatory annual training for all U.S. Attorneys' staff involved with the PSN and Weed and Seed grant programs. In July 2007, USAEO demonstrated that it has disseminated forms to Ethics Advisors in 93 offices in direct response to the GAO recommendations. Ethics Advisors are responsible for ensuring that the forms are completed by all personnel working on Project Safe Neighborhood and Weed and Seed grant programs. The forms (GCO-1,2,3) require individuals involved with Project Safe Neighborhood and/or Weed and Seed grant applications to certify they are free from financial conflicts of interest. In addition, USAEO has ensured that there is supervisory review of these forms.

Full Report

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Topics

Federal grantsCrime preventionGrant administrationConflict of interestsGrant monitoringLegal counselFinancial disclosureCrimeLaw enforcementGrant programs