NCJ Number
250692
Date Published
April 2017
Length
26 pages
Annotation
This report presents the findings and methodology for the U.S. Justice Department's Office of the Inspectors General's (OIG's) audit of formula grants awarded by the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) to the New Mexico Crime Victims Reparation Commission in Albuquerque, NM, under the Victim Assistance and Victim Compensation Program.
Abstract
The audited grants were awarded under the mandates of the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA). Grants audited under the Victim Assistance Program were 2013-VA-GX-0070, 2014-VA-GX-0059, and 2015-VC-GX-0053. Grants audited under the Victim Compensation Program were 2013-VC-GX-0052, 2014-VC-GX-0038, and 2015-VC-GX-0049. The New Mexico Crime Victims reparation Commission (CVRC) received a total of $21,426,96 for the six awards under review. CVRC is responsible for administering VOCA grants throughout New Mexico. CVRC provides compensation to victims, family, and dependents of deceased victims, as well as to any individual who voluntarily assumes funeral or medical expenses of the victim. The audit's objective was to evaluate how CVRC designed and implemented its crime victim assistance and compensation programs. This was done by assessing performance in areas of grant management that included State program implementation, program performance and accomplishment, grant financial management, and monitoring of sub-recipients. The audit determined that CVRC generally managed the grants appropriately and demonstrated adequate progress toward achieving the grants' stated goals and objectives; however, CVRC id not always ensure that grant funding was used for allowable purposes. It reimbursed victims for medical marijuana purchases; although medical marijuana is permissible under New Mexico law, it is a banned substance under Federal law. Due to these deficiencies, the audit identified $7,630 in questioned costs. The report contains one recommendation to OJP to address this deficiency. 4 tables and appended audit methodology, schedule of dollar-related findings, and CVCR response to the draft audit report