Mr. Schiff: More than 9,000,000 pages of files at the FBI have been converted from paper to computer images. The FBI's Records Management Division has a Document Conversion Lab and that's where Cathy Makara works...

Ms. Makara: "We scan documents pertaining to investigations that include indictments, criminal task force investigations, several large public corruption cases across the country and a terrorist threat investigation."

Mr. Schiff: Makara says the Doc Lab was created two-years ago and there was some quick planning...

Ms. Makara: "We also needed to find, test and select various computer software in support of our operation, and finally, we had to train our staff in the scanning process."

Mr. Schiff: Makara says conversion helps...

Ms. Makara: "Document conversion can reduce boxes and boxes of paper material down to a few computer discs. That makes the handling and the storage of the material much easier for the Special Agents in the field."

Mr. Schiff: With files on computers, searching is that much faster. I'm Neal Schiff and that's what's happening at the "FBI, This Week."

Link: "FBI, This Week" ABC Radio Show Archives