Latest news with #OfficeOfInspectorGeneral
Fox News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Chicago Public Schools agrees to pay feds back $1 million over misallocated grants
FIRST ON FOX – The Chicago Public Schools district and the Department of Education (ED) reached an agreement to pay back over $1 million after issues arose when the district reported their Native Indian student population when applying for federal grants. Documents obtained by Fox News Digital show that the ED's Office of Inspector General found that Chicago Public Schools were counting South Asian students from Myanmar, Pakistan and Nepal as Native Americans to receive additional federal funding. The repayment of funds is not considered a fine because the amount owed by the school district resulted from an agreement between the school district and the ED. Chicago Public Schools officials received federal funding from the Indian Education Formula Grant, which provides educational and cultural programming to students of Native American and Alaska Native Ancestry. The American Indian Education Program, managed by Chicago Public Schools' Office of Language and Cultural Education, received an annual grant from the ED's Office of Indian Education – the program's primary subsidy. In order to obtain funds, the Office of Indian Education would allocate an amount based on the total number of students enrolled in Chicago Public School's American Indian Education Program. Students are required to be of Native American ancestry. The case first opened in 2021, when the ED Office of Inspector General (OIG) reviewed data from Chicago Public School's student database showing over 1,000 students who identified as Native American. The investigation highlighted that several students' surnames indicated that they were of South Asian ancestry, specifically natives of India, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan. In 2024, the OIG investigation concluded the program manager and school district "intentionally" submitted and certified false information to the federal government for years. Chicago Public Schools' reporting of the information resulted in about $140,000 more federal funds than they were entitled to during the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years. The ED investigation discovered further that hundreds of thousands of undeserved federal funding was granted to the district prior to 2022. The investigation estimated a total of more than $1.1 million in misallocated funds over the past decade. The Chicago Public School District is already facing enrollment struggles, budget woes, and had tensions with the teachers' union during their contract negotiations. The school district told Fox News Digital that at no point did CPS officials misidentify students by race or ethnicity. Contrary to what the OIG report states, CPS officials claimed there was no misclassification of South Asian students as American Indian. They also said they worked closely and cooperatively with the ED's Office of Indian Education to "review past practices and implement a stronger, more accurate system for collecting voluntary tribal enrollment information." "This includes clear protocols for verifying tribal membership through federally-recognized documentation from the student, parent, or grandparent through a voluntary process at each school," the spokesperson added. "The District is also enhancing training, data collection, and engagement efforts through the CPS Office of Multilingual-Multicultural Education (OMME), the Office of Family and Community Engagement (FACE), and other departments that work with Native families." CPS officials told Fox News Digital that ED's Office of Indian Education has commended them for "ongoing cooperation and for proactively addressing these issues." CPS said they will not apply for the American Indian Education grant for Fiscal Year 2026 to proceed with caution and to ensure full compliance in the future. "CPS has agreed to repay funds to the federal government because the District could not fully verify historical documentation related to the collection and submission of data confirming the identification of American Indian students as part of the District's application for the American Indian Education grant," the spokesperson said. However, an ED spokesperson who sent Fox News Digital the documents accused CPS of "knowingly submitting and certifying false information about their student population." Reacting to the CPS statement, the ED spokesperson doubled down, referring to the OIG investigation which "found that CPS's American Indian Education Program, at the direction of Program Manager (redacted), has continued to submit false program enrollment on federal grant applications in 2022, 2023, and 2024, even after OIG reported in 2021 that (redacted) and the AIEP have been significantly misstating program enrollment data on grant applications for several years."
Forbes
11-07-2025
- Forbes
Office Of The Inspector General's Report On Federal Prison Restraints
Office of Inspector General cited concerns over how the Bureau of Prisons restrains certain inmates ... More in its facilities. Use of Restraints The Department of Justice's Office of the Inspector General (OIG) issued a report on the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) policies and practices in using restraints on inmates. The OIG's investigation into allegations made by inmates at various BOP institutions revealed that inmates were placed in restraints for prolonged periods while being confined to beds or chairs. Some inmates suffered severe or long-term injuries, such as the amputation of a limb after being restrained for over two days. The OIG found that shortcomings in BOP's policies and practices contributed to these issues, limiting evidence availability and impairing investigations into potential misconduct by BOP staff. Identified Shortcomings in BOP's Use of Restraints The investigation into the BOP's use of restraints revealed significant issues that compromise inmate safety and well-being. These include a lack of clear definitions and guidance regarding terms like "four-point restraints" and inadequate instructions for the necessary medical and psychological checks. BOP policies also permit prolonged use of restraints without sufficient oversight, resulting in injuries such as nerve damage and scarring. Additionally, the documentation of restraint checks is often insufficient, with no requirements for video or audio recordings to support or dispute inmate claims of mistreatment. Furthermore, while medical and psychological assessments are required, there is inconsistent documentation and follow-up regarding inmates' injuries or health concerns. Relevant BOP Policies and Regulations The BOP's use of force and restraint policies are outlined in the BOP's program statement 5566, and the applicable regulations are codified in 28 C.F.R. § 552. These policies state that force, including restraints, should only be used as a last resort when all other efforts to resolve a situation have failed. However, the BOP had run into issues with restraints in 2023 when USP Thomson was suddenly closed over abuses uncovered in its Special Management Unit (SMU). According to a study by The Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights & Urban Affairs, inmates were subjected to prolonged use of four-point restraints. Psychological abuse was also rampant, including extended solitary confinement, racial slurs, and deliberate placement with dangerous cellmates. Staff often denied mental health care to vulnerable individuals, exacerbating their conditions. These practices, which were described as pervasive torture, continued even after the closure of the Thomson SMU in 2023. Concerns Regarding Prolonged Restraint Use One of the primary issues raised by the OIG is the BOP's failure to limit the duration of time an inmate can be kept in restraints, particularly in extreme cases like four-point restraints. According to the Use of Force Policy, inmates must be checked every 15 minutes by correctional officers, every two hours by a lieutenant, and twice per 8-hour shift by medical staff. However, the OIG found that restraints were often applied for extended periods without appropriate interventions, with some inmates being kept in restraints for over a week. This prolonged use has been linked to significant physical harm, such as nerve damage and injuries requiring medical attention. The OIG also found a lack of clarity in the BOP's guidelines about how long restraints should be applied, which is particularly concerning for inmates with mental health or self-harm issues. Deficiencies in Medical and Mental Health Oversight The OIG's review also highlighted significant deficiencies in the medical and psychological assessments of inmates in restraints. Although the BOP mandates medical assessments for inmates placed in four-point restraints, the OIG found that these assessments were often insufficient and lacked detailed documentation. In addition, medical checks, particularly those performed after the initial assessment, were not always video recorded, nor were the injuries adequately documented. The OIG also noted that BOP's medical and psychological staff may not always be well-equipped to identify injuries that result from prolonged restraint, such as nerve or muscle damage. In one case, an inmate's injury worsened to the point of requiring amputation, despite the fact that medical checks were being performed. Policy Gaps in Restraint Documentation and Review Procedures The OIG found that the BOP's documentation of restraint checks was often inadequate. The 15-minute checks were sometimes minimal and lacked sufficient detail to assess whether the inmate's welfare was being appropriately monitored. For example, in some cases, the only notes in the records were vague descriptions like "inmate manipulating restraints" or "inmate unresponsive." The OIG believes that these check forms need to include more comprehensive information about the inmate's condition and behavior to help determine whether restraints should be continued. Furthermore, the lack of video or audio recordings of restraint checks limits the OIG's ability to investigate claims of mistreatment and misconduct. The OIG has recommended that the BOP implement video and audio recording of all restraint checks to ensure that both the welfare of the inmate and the actions of the staff are properly documented. Concerns Regarding Psychological Support for Inmates in Restraints The OIG expressed concern about the psychological support available to inmates placed in restraints, especially those with mental health issues. While the BOP's Use of Force Policy requires that inmates in four-point restraints be seen by Psychology Services at least once every 24 hours, the OIG found that in practice, these visits were infrequent and inadequate. In some cases, inmates who had attempted suicide or engaged in self-harm were restrained for extended periods without sufficient mental health intervention. The OIG stressed the importance of more frequent psychological assessments for inmates in restraints, particularly those with severe mental health issues. Recommendations for BOP Policy Revisions In response to the identified concerns, the OIG has recommended several key revisions to the BOP's restraint policies and practices. These include providing clearer definitions and guidelines for restraint types, including medical, psychological, and behavioral checks. The OIG also suggests limiting the duration of restraints to prevent physical harm and unnecessary exposure to prolonged restraint. Additionally, the OIG recommends improved documentation of restraint checks, with more detailed information about inmates' behavior and welfare, and the requirement for video and audio recordings for accountability. Enhanced medical and psychological assessments, especially for inmates with mental health issues, are also advised. Finally, the OIG calls for greater involvement of regional staff to oversee restraints and offer an objective perspective on their continued use. Response The OIG's investigation into the use of restraints by the BOP has highlighted significant issues regarding the prolonged use of restraints, inadequate medical and psychological assessments, and insufficient documentation of restraint checks. BOP Director William Marshall III provided an initial statement in response to OIG's report deficiencies stating, 'The BOP is committed to addressing these issues and implementing meaningful improvements and views OIG's recommendations as a crucial oppo1tunity to enhance agency practices and ensure the humane treatment of all inmates. As noted in OIG's MAM, BOP 's statutory duty is to provide for the safekeeping and protection of inmates, and this duty is integral to the agency's mission.' I reached out to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) regarding OIG's report and Maria Morris, senior staff attorney at the ACLU's National Prison Project, provided the following statement: "The use of four-point restraints for hours on end, sometimes resulting in serious and permanent injury, is the latest example of the cruelty that has come to define conditions in the Federal Bureau of Prisons. This type of abuse is unconstitutional and unacceptable, and it underscores exactly why robust oversight is essential. With President Trump threatening to gut federal accountability mechanisms, we're facing a dangerous moment where this kind of brutality could become even more common and even harder to uncover and stop."
E&E News
22-05-2025
- Business
- E&E News
EPA watchdog flags concerns over remote worker data
The EPA Office of Inspector General has found pay-equity issues linked to a lack of data on the location of teleworking or remote employees. At issue: differing pay scales based on cost of living. The IG report concluded, 'EPA cannot ensure that employees are paid the correct amount because it doesn't have comprehensive or reliable data to verify employees' work locations.' Michael Molina, the Office of Mission Support's principal deputy assistant administrator, agreed to come up with a plan to verify each year an employee's location, resolving the report's recommendation. Advertisement Heightened surveillance measures have already been implemented, according to a memo Molina sent to employees last month.
Associated Press
09-05-2025
- Climate
- Associated Press
Floods exposed weaknesses in California prisons' emergency plans. They still aren't ready
In 2023, amid record-breaking rain and snow, two prisons in the southern San Joaquin Valley faced a serious risk of flooding. But neither prison, California State Prison, Corcoran or the Substance Abuse Treatment Facility, had a robust evacuation plan on hand and ready for the looming disaster. Instead, the prisons developed a joint plan to transfer roughly 8,000 incarcerated people to other state prisons within 11 to 14 days — or longer. Wheelchair-bound individuals, the plan stated, would take six days to evacuate. And department buses intended to shuttle people to safety could take up to a day to arrive. The floods that year ultimately did not reach the prisons, but the threat they posed illustrated how California's 90,000-prisoner corrections system has failed to prepare for natural disasters. That's according to a report issued last week by an independent agency that oversees the department's disciplinary process and internal investigations. 'While California's prisons are vulnerable to wildfires, floods, and earthquakes, we found they are not adequately prepared to respond to emergencies posed by natural disasters,' stated the report by the Office of Inspector General, which reviewed emergency plans for 30 state prisons after fielding concerns about the department's disaster response. The report detailed deep fractures in the department's emergency preparedness, including issues of transportation, varied risk assessment methodologies, lacking mutual aid agreements, timely evacuations, and prison overcrowding. As of December, California's prison system was operating at roughly 120% – or 16,000 people – over its designed capacity, according to the report. 'Not only are some prisons overcrowded, but the department is unable to evacuate the incarcerated population and staff at most prisons within the first critical 72 hours of an emergency,' the report noted. 'Without the ability to quickly evacuate prisons, it is likely that wildfires, floods, and earthquakes will result in loss of life within the incarcerated population.' Notably, the inspector general found that none of the prisons included a plan to evacuate incarcerated people outside their gates, but rather focused on moving 'the incarcerated population to and from locations within the prison.' The report concluded with a list of 18 recommendations, including ones that would bring the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation into compliance with California regulations around emergency planning. Carlee Purdum, an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Houston who researches how disasters impact incarcerated people, said the report is a 'first step' in identifying more resources to support prisons and corrections agencies as they plan and prepare. 'I've never seen anything like this before,' Purdum said. 'Prisons and corrections agencies are very marginalized and isolated in the emergency and disaster planning space. The significant takeaway should be that we have not engaged in these kinds of discussions, and put forth the kind of state level resources and accountability into these institutions.' Advocates for years have been sounding the alarm over the ways in which California prisons are ill-equipped to confront climate hazards due to issues such as overcrowding and aging infrastructure. A 2023 report by the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs and the nonprofit organization Ella Baker Center for Human Rights chronicled those concerns and urged the state to implement safeguards. 'People inside have a fear that the actual plan is to abandon them in the case of an emergency. It is deeply troubling,' said James King, director of programs for the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights. 'In these public health crises, it's not just going to affect the people in the prisons, either incarcerated there or working there. It's going to impact the entire county, the entire community.' Those concerns were echoed by Dax Proctor, statewide coordinator for Californians United for a Responsible Budget, a statewide coalition of organizations that view climate hazards as a key reason to close prisons. 'The number one solution to address these issues at hand is to reduce the number of people locked up in California prisons as rapidly as possible,' Proctor said. 'A good starting place would be those most vulnerable to climate hazards.' Officials from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services answered questions about the report before lawmakers at a hearing Thursday. They assured lawmakers that the department would not work alone in a large-scale emergency. 'California has a vast amount of resources and we would rely heavily on our federal, state and local partners to assist us with the evacuation of an entire prison,' said Melissa Prill, special agent-in-charge at the corrections department's Office of Correctional Safety. But Sen. Laura Richardson, a Democrat from Inglewood, said that in an unpredictable situation, those partners 'may be busy assisting other people.' 'To assume that these other agencies are going to be available to help you, or to help us in a prison environment is not something, going forward, we have the freedom to assume,' Richardson said. 'I would give this (office of inspector general)'s report of your organization — I would consider it an 'F' — frankly.' Sen. Kelly Seyarto, a Republican from Murrieta, said he wasn't 'extremely critically concerned.' 'I think we're getting a little overboard in terms of thinking that we are going to have to evacuate entire prisons,' Seyarto said. 'It's just not a practical thing to think that somehow the whole prison is going to catch on fire.' In a statement to CalMatters, department spokesperson Mary Xjimenez said prisons take an 'all-hazards' approach to emergency planning and that it coordinates its plans with the Governor's Office of Emergency Services. The department 'follows the FEMA National Incident Management System, which is the national doctrine that provides all federal, state, and local response agencies with a consistent set of principles, management structures, and a systematic approach to emergency response.' King said the department has a history of being unprepared for climate hazards and instead reacts to them once they inevitably occur. 'These are simply facts,' King said. The department 'could accept these facts and do something about them — or they could try to manage their response to the report. Disappointedly, it seems like they've chosen the latter. This is an opportunity to improve their response, to see the gaps and to create plans that address the gaps. ' ___ This story was originally published by CalMatters and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.
