Justice Needs Better Controls Over Payment of Witness Fees

Gao ID: GGD-84-61 July 12, 1984

GAO reviewed how three U.S. attorney's offices and three U.S. Marshals Service offices manage the use of and payments to fact witnesses and to experts who testify at trials or in nontrial activities.

GAO found that the Department of Justice is not following its policy regarding the approved use of and payments to fact witnesses, and U.S. Marshals offices are processing fact witness payments without proper certification. Further, payments to some expert witnesses are not in compliance with Justice guidelines. Regarding expert consultants who assist with nontrial activities, no clear Justice guidance exists to help U.S. attorneys and marshals in calculating their compensation.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

Director: Arnold P. Jones Team: General Accounting Office: General Government Division Phone: (202) 512-7797


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