Review of Juvenile Justice Costs and Youth Incentive Program Costs Which the New Jersey Department of Human Services, Division of Family Development Retroactively Claimed to the Emergency Assistance Program

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

This final report points out that New Jersey retroactively claimed $5.2 million (Federal share $2.6 million) under the Emergency Assistance (EA) program for the costs of certain juvenile justice and youth incentive programs. The retroactive claims did not meet EA eligibility criteria related to the application for benefits and authorization of services. Subsequent to our fieldwork New Jersey withdrew their claim based on concerns raised by our review regarding the validity of these claims. New Jersey returned $2 million to the Federal Government on April 26, 2000, which had previously been paid to the State by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). New Jersey also agreed not to seek reimbursement for the remaining $0.6 million which the ACF had deferred pending the results of our review.