Review of the Critical Incident Response Plans of the United States Attorneys’ Offices

Report Number I-2004-001
December 2003

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

INTRODUCTION

SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY

RESULTS OF THE REVIEW

Most USAOs Have Not Prepared and Exercised Comprehensive Plans to Guide Their Response to Critical Incidents

Most USAOs failed to prepare comprehensive critical incident response plans

Most USAOs have never conducted critical incident response exercises

CTS and EOUSA Failed to Fulfill Their Administrative and Support Responsibilities for the CMC Program

CTS and EOUSA did not provide effective training

CTS and EOUSA provided minimal guidance to the CMC Program

CTS and EOUSA failed to accurately track and maintain the Plans submitted by USAOs, resulting in lost Plans

CTS did not timely review submitted Plans or provide feedback to USAOs

EOUSA neglected to examine CMC Program implementation during evaluations of USAO operations

The Department Overstated CMC Program Implementation in Its Annual Performance Reports

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

APPENDIX A—CRITICAL INCIDENT RESPONSE PLAN CONTENT ANALYSIS

APPENDIX B—CONTENT OF CMC TRAINING CONFERENCES

APPENDIX C—CMC SURVEY INSTRUMENT

APPENDIX D—CRITICAL INCIDENT CHRONOLOGY: 1988-2003

APPENDIX E—CRIMINAL DIVISION AND EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS' RESPONSE

APPENDIX F—OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S ANALYSIS OF THE CRIMINAL DIVISION AND EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS' RESPONSE