Review Sees Progress at NJ Disabilities Division

A review of New Jersey's Division of Developmental Disabilities finds significant improvement since a scathing 2009 report that uncovered waste and abuse.

The results were released Wednesday by State Comptroller Matthew Boxer, who also oversaw the 2009 report.

Since then, the division has collected nearly $18 million by closing out expired contracts dating back to 2005.

The 2009 audit revealed that the division paid 10 providers $1.4 million for life-skills training for residents who didn't receive instruction. It also found that the state paid more than $100,000 for two cruises taken by employees of one of the division's service providers along with some developmentally disabled clients.

The report released Wednesday found the division has tightened its travel expenditure policy and improved its monitoring of contracts.