U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

Statement of Jeffrey Harris on April 21, 1982 Concerning Federal Surplus Property

NCJ Number
83810
Author(s)
J Harris
Date Published
1982
Length
7 pages
Annotation
A deputy associate attorney general presents the view of the Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding H.R. 4450 and H.R. 6208, legislation to facilitate the disposal of surplus Federal property to States and localities for the construction or modification of correctional facilities.
Abstract
The DOJ has responded to prison overcrowding problems by establishing a surplus properties clearinghouse in the Bureau of Prisons in July 1981 to help States and local correctional agencies learn about and acquire suitable surplus properties. However, present law allows transfers for correctional use only for fair market value, and legislation is needed to permit donated or discounted sales. The DOJ thus supports H.R. 4450, which authorizes the General Services Administration (GSA), upon recommendation of the Attorney General, to donate any surplus property to a State for the construction of criminal justice facilities, but recommends minor changes which have already been incorporated in a similar Senate bill. Under H.R. 6028, GSA would assign to the Attorney General surplus real property as needed for correctional use, giving responsibility for disposal and administration to the DOJ. The DOJ would then have to establish an in-house real property unit, duplicating a capability already in GSA. Therefore, the DOJ opposes this bill and prefers to have GSA act as the disposal agent for correctional transfers.