Audit of the Hampden County District Attorney’s Office

This is a state performance audit of the Hampden County District Attorney’s Office, covering July 1, 2016 through December 31, 2017.

“In accordance with Section 12 of Chapter 11 of the Massachusetts General Laws, the Office of the State Auditor has conducted a performance audit of the Hampden County District Attorney’s Office (HCDA) for the period July 1, 2016 through December 31, 2017.”

Auditors looked at how the office managed two programs: juvenile diversion and victim witness assistance.

“In this performance audit, we examined HCDA’s activities related to the administration of its Juvenile Diversion Program and Victim Witness Assistance Program.”

The juvenile diversion program is meant to help first-time young offenders avoid future trouble, but the audit says the office was not measuring whether that was happening.

“However, HCDA officials told us that HCDA has not set up a process to identify, collect, and evaluate relevant program data to determine whether this goal is met.”

For residents, this matters because the program uses public resources and is supposed to reduce repeat offenses, which can affect public safety and costs.

“In OSA’s opinion, this more long-term focus may provide a greater benefit to juvenile offenders by better ensuring that they do not reoffend, which would also reduce incarceration costs and have a more significant impact on public safety.”

The main problem was not that the auditors found the program failed, but that the office lacked a process to judge whether it was working.

“As a result, HCDA is limited in its ability to assess the effectiveness of this program and determine whether any changes to the program are necessary.”

The auditor recommended that the office decide what information to track, formally collect and review it, and use it to improve the program.

“HCDA should identify the relevant information that could be used to assess the effectiveness of its Juvenile Diversion Program, establish a formal process to collect and evaluate this information, and use it to make any necessary program enhancements.”

The audit is significant because it says public officials and the public need better information about who the program serves, what happens afterward, and whether the program is achieving its purpose.

“In addition, determining to what extent the goals of a program are being met is a key component of proper program administration, and in the case of the Juvenile Diversion Program, OSA believes it is essential in providing the Legislature and the public with transparency regarding program participation, outcomes, and overall impact.”

“Juvenile diversion” means some first-time young offenders can complete requirements like community service, counseling, restitution, or classes, and if they succeed, their charges are dismissed.

“When participants successfully complete the program requirements, the charges against them are dismissed.”