Summary: The International Criminal Police Organization's (INTERPOL) red notice system sends out international "wanted posters" to help identify and capture fugitives who have committed crimes in the United States. GAO found that the arrest rate for these individuals is unknown because red notice data are not compiled by the U.S. National Central Bureau, INTERPOL, or the Justice Department. Red notices have not been sought for all eligible fugitives mainly because law enforcement officials view them as unnecessary or unhelpful in some cases. Data accuracy is another problem, with discrepancies affecting 43 percent of the files and documentation for red notices issued in fiscal year 1992. Law enforcement officials, however, characterize these discrepancies as minor. GAO also noted shortcomings in computer security. The U.S. National Central Bureau has no guarantee either that its data processing facility and system would continue operating during an emergency or that computer security threats would be identified and countered. Additionally, critical back-up files were not stored apart from the U.S. National Central Bureau site.
