Skip to main content

Justice and Law Enforcement

Jump To:

Recent Reports

View More Reports

Open Recommendations

Tribes in Alaska: More Clarity Needed on Concurrent Criminal Jurisdiction and Funding Opportunities
GAO-26-107533
Feb 18, 2026
Show
2 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of the Interior The Secretary of the Interior should ensure BIA documents its position on concurrent state-tribal criminal jurisdiction in Alaska and makes it readily available to relevant entities (recommendation 1).
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of the Interior The Secretary of the Interior should ensure BIA documents and communicates criteria for entering into new funding agreements with Tribes for public safety and justice programs, including with Tribes in mandatory P.L. 280 states (recommendation 2).
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Bureau of Prisons: Actions Needed to Better Achieve Financial and Other Benefits of Moving Individuals to Halfway Houses on Time
GAO-26-107353
Feb 11, 2026
Show
7 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Bureau of Prisons The BOP Director should maintain readily available data on the dates incarcerated individuals are eligible to transfer to RRCs or home confinement, across the bureau. This includes the eligibility date pursuant to the First Step Act, Second Chance Act, and any other incentives or benefits available to incarcerated individuals regardless of the availability of RRC and home confinement space. (Recommendation 1)
Open
We will update the status of this recommendation when the Bureau of Prisons provides its 180-day letter (expected in late summer 2026).
Bureau of Prisons The BOP Director should monitor, across the bureau, whether individuals transfer to RRCs and home confinement on time, and if not, take corrective action. (Recommendation 2)
Open
We will update the status of this recommendation when the Bureau of Prisons provides its 180-day letter (expected in late summer 2026).
Bureau of Prisons The BOP Director should more comprehensively assess its RRC capacity needs, including locations and number of RRC spaces. The assessment should consider all time available to incarcerated individuals for prerelease custody, including time under the First Step Act, Second Chance Act, and the Residential Drug Abuse Program. (Recommendation 3)
Open
We will update the status of this recommendation when the Bureau of Prisons provides its 180-day letter (expected in late summer 2026).
Bureau of Prisons The BOP Director should, after determining RRC capacity needs, determine the related budgetary needs. (Recommendation 4)
Open
We will update the status of this recommendation when the Bureau of Prisons provides its 180-day letter (expected in late summer 2026).
Bureau of Prisons The BOP Director should develop and implement a plan—including timeframes, roles, and responsibilities—for addressing known challenges in reaching a sufficient level of prerelease custody capacity. (Recommendation 5)
Open
We will update the status of this recommendation when the Bureau of Prisons provides its 180-day letter (expected in late summer 2026).
Bureau of Prisons The BOP Director should ensure its market analysis for RRC contracts is aligned with leading practices for developing and assessing models. (Recommendation 6)
Open
We will update the status of this recommendation when the Bureau of Prisons provides its 180-day letter (expected in late summer 2026).

Federal Prisons: Improvements Needed to the System Used to Assess and Mitigate Incarcerated People’s Recidivism Risk
GAO-26-107268
Jan 27, 2026
Show
7 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Bureau of Prisons The Director of BOP should take steps to ensure it collects and maintains accurate programming data, including codes to indicate program participation and waitlists. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Bureau of Prisons The Director of BOP should collect standardized data bureau-wide that are readily accessible on incarcerated people who do not have work assignments, including data on people who are exempt from working for allowable reasons. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Bureau of Prisons The Director of BOP should monitor work assignment data, once collected, and take corrective action as needed to ensure eligible persons have work assignments. (Recommendation 3)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Bureau of Prisons The Director of BOP should ensure accurate release data are readily accessible on an individual's release status and associated date. (Recommendation 4)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Bureau of Prisons The Director of the BOP should develop and implement a process to ensure its FSA policies and procedures are consistently implemented across the bureau and take corrective actions as needed. (Recommendation 5)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Bureau of Prisons The Director of the BOP should develop and implement a process for staff with FSA responsibilities to demonstrate competence in implementing the FSA and take corrective actions as needed. (Recommendation 6)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Terrorist Watchlist: FBI Should Improve Outreach Efforts to Nonfederal Users
GAO-26-108650
Jan 12, 2026
Show
3 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Federal Bureau of Investigation The Director of FBI should ensure that the Threat Screening Center seeks information to better understand the extent to which nonfederal law enforcement entities are consistently reporting terrorist watchlist encounters and takes steps to identify and address the reasons, as appropriate, that officers may not report a terrorist watchlist encounter. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Federal Bureau of Investigation The Director of FBI should develop and implement a communication plan with clear, measurable goals and periodic assessments of progress to increase nonfederal law enforcement entities' awareness of terrorist watchlist policies. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Federal Bureau of Investigation The Director of FBI should develop and implement a process to review the efforts of state systems agencies in instructing NCIC users on how to handle terrorist watchlist information, such as through its training requirements, audits, or training assistance efforts. (Recommendation 3)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
View More Recommendations

Related Pages

GAO Contacts

Multimedia

Podcasts

To Fight Fraud, Inspectors General Need Help Identifying Companies’ Ownership
Transcript
Exploitation of Children Online is Increasing, As Are The Challenges In Preventing It
Transcript
How Virtual Currencies Are Used in Human and Drug Trafficking
Transcript