Reading Room Document

Expenses for Purchase of Tape Recorder in United States v. Sacco.

In this brief memo, the OLC concluded that the expense of purchasing a tape recorder, ordered by a federal judge at government expense for a defendant to use in a pending criminal matter, would be payable from Criminal Justice Act appropriations. Relying on United States v. Brown and the Act’s purpose of ensuring a defendant is provided with the means of securing evidence, the OLC concluded that a tape recorder would fall into the covered category of “other services.” The OLC additionally suggested that loaning a tape recorder from the Department might be more prudent.

February 4, 1974