| Department of Justice (DOJ) Acting Inspector General Don R. Berthiaume announced today the release of a report on two grants totaling $2,338,000 awarded to the Maryland Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy (GOCPP). The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) awarded these grants for Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023 to provide compensation benefits to eligible crime victims in Maryland. As of July 2025, the Maryland GOCPP had spent the total amount awarded. The DOJ Office of the Inspector General (OIG) found that the Maryland GOCPP executed a program to compensate victims and survivors of criminal violence. However, we found that the Maryland GOCPP submitted incorrect annual state certification forms, which OJP relies on to calculate future formula grants. Therefore, we determined the Maryland GOCPP should enhance its policies and procedures governing how it compiles and reviews its annual state certification forms and performance reports. We also found discrepancies between the Maryland GOCPP's internal records and the data on the Performance Measurement Tool reports it submitted to OVC. The Maryland GOCPP should strengthen its controls over victim compensation claim payments and the retention of supporting documents to avoid further discrepancies. Specifically, the OIG identified $151,603 in questioned costs related to unsupported and unallowable victim compensation payments. The DOJ OIG made nine recommendations to OJP to improve the Maryland GOCPP's management of award performance. OJP and the Maryland GOCPP agreed with all nine recommendations. | | | You are receiving this message because you are subscribed to OIG Reports - Office of Justice Programs (OJP) for U.S. Department of Justice. Follow the DOJ Office of the Inspector General on X @JusticeOIG | | | |
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