BRIEFCASE INSPECTIONS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP05T00644R000601680035-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 9, 2009
• Sequence Number: 35
• Publication Date: August 22, 1978
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 2009/09/09: CIA-RDP05T00644R000601680035-6
2 2 AUG_. 197
STAT
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
VIA: Deputy Director for Administration
Acting Director of Security
SUBJECT: Briefcase Inspections
REFERENCE: Memo to DDA fr DCI, dtd 31 Jul 73,
Subject as above
1. Action Requested: None; for information only.
2. Background: The referent asks whether the Federal
Protective Officers (FPO's) assigned to this Agency are-
allowed to ask our employees to open their briefcases and
whether Office of Security representatives are allowed to
open packages marked "Personal" while conducting surprise
briefcase inspections.
The Federal Protective Officers have the authority
to inspect briefcases or packages carried by ~an person
entering Agency buildings in order to ensure that prohibited
items are not being brought in. These items include such
things as cameras, recording or transmitting equipment,
weapons, bombs, and incendiary devices. The FPO's also have
the authority to stop anyone departing the Agency buildings
carrying a package which the Officer suspects might contain
Government property. Checks for the presence of classified
material are conducted by Office of Security representatives.
during the course of surprise briefcase/package inspections.
Security Officers are stationed beside the FPO's and divert
employees carrying briefcases, packages, tote bags, etc.,
off to one side where they can question the employee. while
the FPO continues to monitor all persons entering or depart-
ing a building.
According to the General Services Administration,
an extension of FPO authority to permit them to perform
searches for classified material would require a written
!!??~~ ?yes+'~,
CC'L) I T~
-AD IRAT ' INTERNAL USE ONLY
OS 8 2121/A
Approved For Release 2009/09/09: CIA-RDP05T00644R000601680035-6
 Approved For Release 2009/09/09: CIA-RDP05T00644R000601680035-6
ADMINISTRATIVE -- INTERNAL USE OI'
request to the General Services Administration, a specific
delegation of authority to the FPO's from this Agency, and
a formal acceptance of Agency responsibility for the acts
of the FPO's in making these inspections. A backup Agency
presence available to report to the entrance where classi-
fied material has been found would be required in order
that judgments could be made and appropriate action taken.
The Office of General Counsel is currently discussing the
feasibility of such an arrangement with the legal counsel of
the General Services Administration.
STAT
vnc j 1
9 3?'h
EU
ADMINISTRATIVE -- INTERNAL USE ONLY
would be resolved through Security and command channels.
On the question of whether office of Security (OS)
representatives are allowed to open packages marked "Personal,"
each OS inspector is required to operate under the guidance
provided by the Office of General Counsel. In providing this
guidance, the General Counsel has made it very clear that
briefcase inspections are legal only if they are conducted on
a consensual basis. Our OS inspectors, therefore, have
inspected "personal" packages but only after obtaining the
consent of the individual before doing so. To date, we have
received no refusals to permit inspections for this reason.
Under current procedures, an inspector faced with such a
refusal would not open the package. The matter of the refusal
Distribution:
Orig - Adse
1 - DDCI
- ER
1 - DD/A
1 - General Counsel
Approved For Release 2009/09/09: CIA-RDP05T00644R000601680035-6