Audit of the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office (MDAO)

This is a performance audit of the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office covering July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2020.

“I am pleased to provide this performance audit of the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office.”

Auditors looked at whether the office followed victim and witness assistance requirements and how it ran its young adult diversion program.

“In this performance audit, we examined MDAO’s compliance with Section 5 of Chapter 258B of the General Laws for the Victim Witness Assistance Program, as well as its administration of the Young Adult Diversion Program (YADP).”

The audit matters because these programs affect crime victims, witnesses, and young adults who may be diverted away from prosecution.

“MDAO operates many programs to serve its communities.”

If you are a victim or witness, the office is supposed to help you understand the court process, your rights, and available services.

“VWAP provides information to victims and witnesses of crimes about the court process and their rights.”

The auditor concluded that both reviewed programs met the audit objectives.

“Below is a list of our audit objectives, indicating each question we intended our audit to answer and the conclusion we reached regarding each objective.”

The main follow-up is that the DA’s office should keep working with statewide partners to replace or improve the old case management system.

“Therefore, the Office of the State Auditor believes MDAO needs to continue to work with MDAA and the other district attorneys’ offices to implement a new case management system as soon as possible.”

The audit found no major compliance failures, but it flagged that the old DAMION database may not meet future data needs.

“The database used by the District Attorneys (“DAMION”) is several decades old and not currently capable of tracking all of the data requested by the Legislature.”

Young Adult Diversion Program means some 18- to 26-year-olds can do required services or community service instead of being prosecuted, if accepted into the program.

“The program provides individualized services to young adults between the ages of 18 and 26, allowing them to complete a remedial program and/or community service as an alternative to prosecution.”