ABSTRACT
The agencies involved in administering federal recreation areas did not embrace the General Accounting Office's (GAO) legislative proposal to extend the federal criminal code to all federal lands. They expressed concern that it might reduce law enforcement assistance from the local agencies. In light of the fact that the government has no policy on criminal law enforcement on federal lands, the General Government Division of the GAO initiated a review during the summer of 1976 to analyze visitor protection conditions at federal recreation areas and to determine the adequacy of law enforcement activities. To update information on unlawful activities occurring at federal recreation areas, a survey questionnaire was sent to 1637 employees at 174 of the nation's most frequently visited recreation areas. Draft legislation to implement the GAO's recommendation is entitled, "The National Recreation Area Law Enforcement Act of 1977".
