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REFORM OF FBI INTELLIGENCE OPERATIONS

NCJ Number
58437
Author(s)
ELLIFF
Date Published
1979
Length
260 pages
Annotation
THE EMERGENCE AND IMPACT OF REFORMS TO ASSURE THAT PRIVACY AND FREEDOM ARE PROTECTED AND LEGITIMATE PUBLIC INTERESTS SERVED BY FBI INTELLIGENCE PROGRAMS ARE EXAMINED.
Abstract
THE DISCUSSION DRAWS ON THE AUTHOR'S EXPERIENCE AS PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT FOR THE POLICE FOUNDATION'S RESEARCH ON FBI INTELLIGENCE OPERATIONS, HEAD OF A CONGRESSIONAL TASK FORCE ON DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE, AND PROFESSIONAL STAFF MEMBER OF A SENATE COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE. THE AIM OF THE BOOK IS TO CONTRIBUTE TO AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE FBI'S DOMESTIC SECURITY AND FOREIGN COUNTERINTELLIGENCE FUNCTIONS AND HOW THESE FUNCTIONS MAY BE CARRIED OUT IN A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS. OPENING CHAPTERS EXAMINED CHANGES MADE IN THE STRUCTURES AND POLICY FRAMEWORK FOR FBI INTELLIGENCE OPERATIONS DURING THE MID-1970'S, FOLLOWING REVELATIONS OF ABUSES OF POWER THAT ACCOMPANIED DIRECTOR J. EDGAR HOOVER'S DEATH AND THE WATERGATE AFFAIR. ISSUES IN THE DEBATE THAT TOOK PLACE OVER FBI INTELLIGENCE POLICY ARE EXAMINED, TOGETHER WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S 1976 GUIDELINES FOR FBI INTELLIGENCE OPERATIONS AND THE FBI INITIAL RESPONSE TO THE GUIDELINES. REASONS FOR THE REORGANIZATION THAT TRANSFERRED DOMESTIC INVESTIGATIONS FROM THE BUREAU'S INTELLIGENCE DIVISION TO ITS CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIVE DIVISION ARE EXPLORED, AND THE OBJECTIVES SOUGHT BY BOTH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE FBI DIRECTOR IN THE REFORMS ARE CONSIDERED. THE DISCUSSION ALSO CONSIDERS ISSUES THAT WERE NOT FULLY RESOLVED BY THE REORGANIZATION AND GUIDELINES INCLUDING FBI POLICY IN THE HANDLING OF DOMESTIC SECURITY INVESTIGATIONS OF TERRORISTS AND INVESTIGATIONS OF FOREIGN SPYING AND FOREIGN-DIRECTED CONVERT POLITICAL ACTIVITIES. CLOSING CHAPTERS DEAL WITH STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES FOR HANDLING ALLEGATIONS OF MISCONDUCT BY FBI PERSONNEL, INCLUDING THE ROLE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IN FBI INTERNAL INQUIRIES. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION, NAME AND SUBJECT INDEXES, AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE PROVIDED. (LKM)