NCJ Number
239237
Date Published
August 2012
Length
40 pages
Annotation
This report presents the results of the U.S. Department of Justice's audit of the Office of Justice Programs Southwest Border Prosecution Initiative funding received by Dona Ana County, NM.
Abstract
Major findings from the U.S. Department of Justice's audit of the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) Southwest Border Prosecution Initiative (SWBPI) in Dona Ana County, NM, include the following: the county claimed and was reimbursed for cases totaling $205,242.10 that were ineligible under the SWBPI guidelines; and that the county claimed reimbursements that were approved but not yet reimbursed for cases totaling $84,726.20 that were ineligible under the SWBPI guidelines. Some of the reasons cited in the report for the ineligible claims included detention days in excess of the actual number of pre-trial detention days, pre-trial detention that did not meet the requirements of pre-trial detention; use of per diem rates that exceeded the publicized per diem rates; and a detention related to a probation violation, which is not a federally initiated case. The objective of the audit was to determine whether the reimbursements received by Dona Ana County for participation in the SWBPI were "allowable, supported, and in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, guidelines, and terms and conditions of the SWBPI". The SWBPI was established by OJP in fiscal year 2002 after Congress began appropriating funds to reimburse State, county, parish, tribal, and municipal governments for costs incurred during the prosecution of federally initiated cases that end up being handled by State or county prosecutors. The findings of the audit are discussed in more detail in the report, along with the objective, scope, and methodology of the audit. Exhibits and appendixes