U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

 

Audit Report

 

Stop Violence Against Indian Women Grants

Administered by the Osage Tribal Council

Grant Numbers

95-WI-NX-0005 AND 98-WI-VX-0004

 

GR-80-99-006

 

March 5, 1999

 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Office of the Inspector General, Audit Division, has completed an audit of the "STOP (Services*Training*Officers*Prosecutors) Violence Against Indian Women Grants," grant numbers 95-WI-NX-0005 and 98-WI-VX-0004, administered by the Osage Tribal Council (Council). The grants totaled $268,687 for the period September 30, 1995, through March 31, 1999. The FY 1995 STOP grant for $89,676 was effective from September 30, 1995, through September 29, 1997. The FY 1998 STOP grant for $179,011 is effective from September 17, 1997, through March 31, 1999.

On September 17, 1997, the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit decided Fletcher v. United States, 116 F. 3d 1315 (10th Cir. 1997). This decision recognized the Council as the valid entity for the Osage Tribe. As a result of the ruling, the Violence Against Women Grants Office deobligated FY 1995 STOP grant funds to the Osage Nation and re-awarded the remaining funds to the Council.

We identified the following weaknesses with regard to the Osage Tribe (Tribe) meeting grant conditions.

These weaknesses are discussed in the Findings and Recommendations section of this report. Our audit scope and methodology are described in Appendix I.

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