Reading Room Document

DEA/State Intelligence Studies and the Privacy Act

This document is a response to a memorandum raising questions about the applicability of the Privacy Act of 1974 to DEA intelligence studies. The conclusions reached in the document are: (1) The studies are not considered systems of records within the Act, (2) DEA is only required to account for its own disclosures, not those of another agency, and (3) If the studies were prepared by states, DEA would only be obligated to account for the information it furnished to the state. The questions presented for review include the classification of the studies as systems of records, the accounting for disclosures, the state's preparation of the reports, and the accuracy, completeness, timeliness, and relevance of the information disclosed. Additionally, the document suggests revising the format of the reports to focus on patterns of drug distribution rather than named individuals or eliminating the program altogether.

May 6, 1975