U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Rural Domestic Violence and Child Victimization Enforcement Program

Bismarck, North Dakota

Grant No. 96-WR-NX-0016

GR-80-98-017

May 5, 1998

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Office of the Inspector General, Audit Division, has completed an audit of the Rural Domestic Violence and Child Victimization Enforcement Program, Grant No. 96-WR-NX-0016, administered by the North Dakota Council on Abused Women's Services (Council), for the period October 1, 1996, through March 31, 1998. The $629,119 grant, awarded by the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), is effective from October 1, 1996, through March 31, 1998. However, an extension to October 31, 1998 had been requested as of the date of our field work.

Our audit disclosed weaknesses in the Council's compliance with the grant award. In addition, personnel costs were not prorated among the various grants administered by the Council. The weaknesses are described in detail in the Findings and Recommendations section of this report. The Findings and Recommendations address the following areas:

- Procedures had not been established to review subrecipients' annual audit reports.

- Health care costs, which were not included in the grant application, were paid from grant funds.

- The Council had not established a method for allocating personnel costs to the various grants administered.

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