The FBI is an extraordinarily secretive organization that routinely denies Congress, reporters and the public comprehensive information about the matters it investigates, the number of individuals who are indicted and convicted as a result, or the distribution of its staff in different parts of the country. For many decades, this absence of concrete information has made it nearly impossible to judge the bureau's actual performance.
Given America's faith in the theory of accountability, the public acceptance of the FBI position is surprising. It's as if General Motors could sell stock without publishing an annual report certified by an independent accounting team. Fortunately, however, the FBI's steadfast resistance to public scrutiny can now be challenged. This is possible because of the Freedom of Information Act, the availability of computerized data analysis programs and the recognition that very detailed information about the enforcement activities of the bureau are recorded by the Justice Department's Executive Office of United States Attorneys (EOUSA).