This study interviewed management officials at FinCEN and Treasury and then reviewed Treasury and FinCEN studies, correspondence, and planning documents. The study also reviewed a Treasury-funded study of FinCEN done by Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. The Treasury Department established FinCEN to support Federal, State, local, and foreign law enforcement offices in the investigation and prosecution of money laundering schemes. FinCEN does not initiate or conduct any investigations; rather, it provides other agencies with tactical and strategic intelligence analyses that identify emerging trends and geographical patterns of money laundering as well as suspected offenders. Additionally, when requested, it provides investigators specially trained and experienced in the analysis of financial records and data to document money laundering violations and to trace the proceeds of criminal activity. FinCEN also operates a communications center for answering requests from law enforcement agencies for specific data and information. Although FinCEN is currently measuring how useful its services are, it has not been operating long enough (since April 1990) to permit an accurate assessment. 1 figure and 3 tables