NCJ Number
79990
Journal
Criminal Justice Quarterly Volume: 8 Issue: 1 Dated: (Spring/Summer 1981) Pages: 1-6
Date Published
1981
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article examines the causes of fraud, waste, and abuse in public assistance programs and then describes New Jersey's efforts to prevent and detect fraud through its Program Integrity Unit (PIU) established in June 1981.
Abstract
Special units to investigate and prosecute fraud were organized within New Jersey's Attorney General's office in 1974, and several have had dramatic successes, notably the Medicaid Fraud Unit. The enormous size and complex administration of public assistance programs, the lack of sufficent internal safeguards against abuse, and the dearth of effective methods to evaluate a program design's vulnerability to fraud have created the opportunity for abuse. Investigations now focus on uncovering evidence of fraud, but when design deficiencies are uncovered, reform and corrective action is stymied by severe understaffing. This situation forces a unit to concentrate on cases with the highest potential for criminal prosecution and discard long-range reforms. The PIU was created to supplement the efforts of existing units by focusing exclusively on fraud prevention and control. Initially, the PIU will consist of a small group of attorneys and investigative accountants within the Division of Criminal Justice trained to assess fiscal integrity and efficiency in government programs. Complaints of mismanagement will be received from citizens as well as State and local agencies. After an extensive examination of the complaint, a report of the staff's findings and corrective recommendations will be forwarded to State agencies and the State Treasurer. The article contains 19 footnotes.