Justice Reorganizing

Attorney General John Ashcroft is proposing the creation of a comprehensive information technology plan as one of the cornerstones of his effort to reorganize the Justice Department.

Development of the plan showing how the department can use IT to support strategic goals and improve information management is one of 10 management initiatives Ashcroft announced Nov. 8.

"We must have information technology from this decade, not from several generations ago," Ashcroft said, "so that we can share intelligence and have the interoperability that a coordinated response to terrorism demands. Major city police departments are better equipped today than is the Justice Department."

The fight against terrorism is now "the first and overriding priority" of the Justice Department, he said.

Other goals include reforming the FBI, improving financial management and restructuring the Immigration and Naturalization Service.