FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                       EOUSA
MONDAY, MARCH 17, 1997                             (202) 616-2771
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888

   FY96 U.S. ATTORNEYS' REPORT SHOWS PROSECUTORS COMPLETED MORE
CASES AGAINST MORE CRIMINALS, RESULTING IN HIGHER CONVICTION RATE


     WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Justice Department's 94 U.S.
Attorneys' offices completed more cases against more criminals in
the most recent fiscal year than in 1995, and also increased
their conviction rate against violent criminals, drug traffickers
and other criminals.  The statistics were released today by the
Justice Department's Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys in its
Annual Statistical Report for Fiscal Year 1996.

     The report summarizes the criminal prosecution and civil
litigation work of the 94 United States Attorneys' offices around
the country, which investigate and prosecute those who violate
our nation's laws and represent the interests of the United
States people in civil cases filed by or against the government.

     "Our efforts are paying off, in large part because U.S.
Attorneys' offices are working so closely with their partners in
state and local law enforcement," said Attorney General 
Janet Reno.  "This report shows that teamwork and determination
can make our country safer from lawbreakers." 

     The increase in case filings stemmed in part from increased
efforts around the country to fight drug trafficking, immigration
offenses, health care fraud and interstate theft.  
 
     The following represents highlights of the work and
achievements of the U.S. Attorneys' offices:


   		 * CRIMINAL PROSECUTION

     During FY 1996, the U.S. Attorneys' offices filed 38,250
criminal cases charging 58,141 defendants with criminal offenses. 
This represents a four percent increase in cases filed when
compared to FY 1995.  For the second year in a row, criminal case
filings grew by more than three percent over the prior year. 
 
     Also during FY 1996, the offices completed 34,882 criminal
cases against 52,366 defendants--a six percent increase over the
previous year.  Of the defendants whose cases were completed, 87
percent were convicted.  This is a two percent increase over the
previous year.  Of those convicted, 73 percent received prison
sentences, with 268 defendants sentenced to life in prison.
     The report reveals that U.S. Attorneys' offices handle a
more diverse criminal caseload than ever before.  Cases include
violent crime and international and domestic terrorism; drug
trafficking and organized crime drug enforcement; financial
fraud, computer fraud, and environmental crime; public corruption
and organized crime; and cases involving multiple defendants and
international organizations.  Specific criminal prosecution
highlights:


       		 *  Violent Crime   

     The U.S. Attorneys continued to prosecute the most violent
criminal offenders under the Attorney General's Anti-Violent
Crime Initiative.  Reflecting the decrease in recorded violent
crimes across the country for the fourth straight year, the
offices filed 6,178 cases against 8,291 violent offenders during
FY 1996.  This is an eight percent decrease in the number of
cases filed and a 10 percent decrease in the number of defendants
filed compared to FY 1995. (Methodological Note: To avoid double
counting, the report puts drug cases that also include a violent
crime charge only in the violent crime category.  Were these
drug-violence cases to be included as drug cases instead, and
compared to FY95 numbers that are similarly adjusted, than the
number of cases filed and the number of defendants charged for
violent crimes would each decrease only five percent.) 

     The offices also completed 6,124 cases against 8,197 violent
crime defendants, with 86 percent of the defendants convicted. 
Eighty-nine percent of the convicted defendants received prison
sentences, with 102 sentenced to life in prison.  Violent crime
cases include those brought against members of violent street
gangs and firearms offenders, violent Indian crime, and cases
brought under "Three Strikes and You're Out," the Violence
Against Women Act, the Assault Weapons Ban, and the Youth Handgun
Safety Act.  


        	 * Drugs   

     The U.S. Attorneys' drug strategy is to target and prosecute
significant drug traffickers and structured drug organizations.  

     The offices filed 10,487 cases against 21,505 drug
defendants during FY 1996.  This represents a three percent
increase in cases filed and a two percent increase in defendants
filed when compared to the previous year.  (Methodological Note:
To avoid double counting, the report puts drug cases that also
include a violent crime charge only in the violent crime
category.  Were these drug-violence cases to be included as drug
cases instead, and compared to FY95 numbers that are similarly
adjusted, than the number of drug cases filed would increase one
percent and the number of defendants charged for drug offenses
crimes would remain almost the same.)  These FY 1996 cases
represented 27 percent of all criminal cases filed during the
year.   

     Of the 19,145 drug defendants whose cases were completed
during the year, 86 percent were convicted--an increase of one
percent over last year. Eighty-eight percent of all convicted
defendants were sentenced to prison, with 150 defendants
sentenced to life. 


         	 * Immigration   
 
     The U.S. Attorneys' offices, along with other Department
components, continued to work to secure the borders of the U.S. 
The number of immigration cases has increased substantially,
including cases brought for alien smuggling and attempted reentry
of aliens previously convicted of felonies and deported.  

     In all, the offices filed 5,754 immigration cases against
6,357 defendants--a 42 percent increase in the number of cases
filed and a 37 percent increase in the number of defendants filed
when compared to FY 1995.  

     Of the 5,781 defendants whose cases were completed, 96
percent were convicted--a conviction rate increase of 2.5 percent
over the previous year.  Of those convicted, 77 percent were
sentenced to prison.  


       		 * Health Care Fraud  

     Health care fraud remains a priority of the Attorney General
and the U.S. Attorneys.  Fraudulent health care activities
include double billing schemes, billing for unnecessary or
unperformed medical tests, or may be related to the quality of
the medical care provided.  Cases filed and cases completed
continue to increase.  

     During FY 1996, the U.S. Attorneys filed 245 health care
fraud cases against 449 defendants--a seven percent increase in
cases filed and an 18 percent increase in defendants filed
compared to last year.  

     Of the 348 defendants whose cases were completed during the
year, 88 percent were convicted.  Fifty percent of the convicted
defendants were sentenced to prison--an increase of five percent
over the previous year.


   		 * CIVIL LITIGATION  

     The U.S. Attorneys' offices initiate civil lawsuits to
assert or protect the interests of the government.  They also
defend the interests of the government in lawsuits filed against
the U.S.  

     During FY 1996, the U.S. Attorneys' offices filed or
responded to a total of 87,917 civil cases, representing a six
percent increase in cases when compared to the prior year. 
During the same time, the offices completed 86,314 civil cases-
-an increase of three percent over the prior year.  The courts
issued judgments in 20,200 of these cases, with 84 percent of
these judgments in favor of the United States.  An additional 30
percent of the cases were settled--a nine percent increase over
FY 1995.  


       		 * Affirmative Civil Enforcement   
 
     Affirmative civil enforcement is important as a powerful
legal tool to help ensure that federal funds are recovered, that
federal laws are obeyed, and that violators provide compensation
to the government for losses and damages they cause as a result
of waste fraud and abuse of government funds and resources. 
Among the civil enforcement actions filed by the U.S. Attorneys
are those brought under the False Claims Act, the Clean Water and
Clean Air Acts, civil enforcement of controlled substance
violations, RICO, defense procurement fraud actions, and health
care fraud enforcement.  

     The U.S. Attorneys' affirmative civil enforcement initiative
resulted in the government collecting $546.6 million in FY 1996.


      		 * Debt Collection  

     In FY96 more than $1.4 billion in civil and criminal debts,
including those paid to other agencies and the courts, was
collected due, in part, to work by the U.S. Attorneys' offices. 
In addition, the offices recovered property valued at $181.7
million, for a total of $1.6 billion collected in FY 1996.  In 
FY 1995, $1.2 billion was collected.

     If estimated recoveries for asset forfeiture were added to
the FY 1996 total, the amount collected would increase to more
than $2 billion. 

     The United States Attorneys, Presidentially appointed to
serve as chief law enforcement officers in the 94 federal
judicial districts, are charged with carrying out prosecution and
litigation responsibilities within their districts.  Although
there are 94 federal judicial districts, there are only 93 U.S.
Attorneys because one U.S. Attorney is appointed to serve both
the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.  

     The 93 U.S. Attorneys direct and supervise the work of
approximately 4,453 Assistant U.S. Attorneys and 5,054 support
personnel.
     At the end of FY 1996, the U.S. Attorney system nationwide
consisted of 94 headquarters offices and 117 staffed branch
offices.                         
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