Former Scott Peterson (left) was being interviewed by ABC reporter Brian Ross (right) last year on Nightline.
Over the weekend, former OJJDP employee and whistleblower Scott Peterson emailed me his reaction to the Inspector General's report that former OJJDP Administrator and Scott's boss, J. Robert Flores, violated the ethics rules in grant-making. Keep in mind that Scott had risked his career of 10 years by smuggling documents from the DOJ to the small youth newspaper, Youth Today, to expose the corruption done by his boss in the grant decision process. The OJJDP has a long way to go from healing as well regaining its integrity. But it is important that transparency and strong leadership for the next OJJDP Administrator. It is my only hope that AG Eric Holder find such leader.
Scott wrote:
As many of us know – hundreds of millions of dollars were awarded by former OJJDP Administrator Robert Flores to his and White House favored agencies without having to compete for scarce criminal and juvenile funds, and even when they scored at the bottom of the list for competed for grants - they still got federal grants.
Hundreds and hundreds of youth serving agencies applied for competitive grants in 2007…about 700 plus in categories like mentoring, gang prevention, substance abuse, etc… and thousands of staff - many on this email wrote those grants and it was largely a big scam as far as a fair competition goes and certainly it was a waste of time for most involved. The OIG report is at the bottom of this email and it is more than 100 pages and insightful in to things like admissions from President Bush appointed officials disclosing the White House was even in on no bids contracts, etc…
With hundreds of millions of dollars now available in competitions from Justice – the actions of many of us to speak up have hopefully significantly reduced no-bid contracts and the corruption in the competitive grant making process. We still need to advocate for public transparency with regards to scores and ranking of grants when grants are awarded in a competitive manner – it is our tax payer funds and there is no reason this is not taking place. See below and I hope from having to go “rouge” on this as the whistleblower – we helped level the playing field for all involved when applying for grants to improve the lives of our most vulnerable children and youth and their families. From ABC News to the Washington Post to Youth Today – see below. Stories from yesterday and today.
Scott Peterson
“OIG Report confirms former Bush appointed OJJDP Administrator J. Robert Flores broke ethics rules and abused his position in awarding millions of dollars no-bid contracts and disregarded competitive grants intended for vulnerable youth”.
ABC NEWS
Report Slams J. Robert Flores and Grant Giving Practices
http://www.abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=7473879&page=1
Hundreds and hundreds of youth serving agencies applied for competitive grants in 2007…about 700 plus in categories like mentoring, gang prevention, substance abuse, etc… and thousands of staff - many on this email wrote those grants and it was largely a big scam as far as a fair competition goes and certainly it was a waste of time for most involved. The OIG report is at the bottom of this email and it is more than 100 pages and insightful in to things like admissions from President Bush appointed officials disclosing the White House was even in on no bids contracts, etc…
With hundreds of millions of dollars now available in competitions from Justice – the actions of many of us to speak up have hopefully significantly reduced no-bid contracts and the corruption in the competitive grant making process. We still need to advocate for public transparency with regards to scores and ranking of grants when grants are awarded in a competitive manner – it is our tax payer funds and there is no reason this is not taking place. See below and I hope from having to go “rouge” on this as the whistleblower – we helped level the playing field for all involved when applying for grants to improve the lives of our most vulnerable children and youth and their families. From ABC News to the Washington Post to Youth Today – see below. Stories from yesterday and today.
Scott Peterson
“OIG Report confirms former Bush appointed OJJDP Administrator J. Robert Flores broke ethics rules and abused his position in awarding millions of dollars no-bid contracts and disregarded competitive grants intended for vulnerable youth”.
ABC NEWS
Report Slams J. Robert Flores and Grant Giving Practices
http://www.abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=7473879&page=1
Washington Post
Report: Justice Dept. Official Violated Ethics Rules in Grant-Making
Bush Administration Appointee Awarded Sole Source Contracts to Ideologically Favored Companies, Individuals
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/30/AR2009043002302.html?hpid=moreheadlines
Bush Administration Appointee Awarded Sole Source Contracts to Ideologically Favored Companies, Individuals
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/30/AR2009043002302.html?hpid=moreheadlines
Report criticizes DOJ grant administrator
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/04/30/Report-criticizes-DOJ-grant-administrator/UPI-89961241137085/
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
Report: Ex-Official Broke Ethics Rules
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/30/AR2009043004066.html
Youth Today
OIG Report Finds Flores Violated Ethics Rules
http://www.youthtoday.org/publication/article.cfm?article_id=2876
Did former OJJDP Administrator J. Robert Flores lie to the Oversight Committee hearing last year?
http://justiceleague00.blogspot.com/2009/05/did-former-ojjdp-administrator-j-robert.html
A Copy of the OIG Report is Available here:
http://www.usdoj.gov/oig/reports/OJP/e0904.pdf
We have some good folks at DOJ now like Acting AGG Laurie Robinson and Acting OJJDP Administrator
Scott
http://www.usdoj.gov/oig/reports/OJP/e0904.pdf
We have some good folks at DOJ now like Acting AGG Laurie Robinson and Acting OJJDP Administrator
Scott
Scott B. Peterson
National Director
Criminal and Juvenile Justice
YouthBuild USA & International
58 Day Street
Somerville, MA 02144
National Director
Criminal and Juvenile Justice
YouthBuild USA & International
58 Day Street
Somerville, MA 02144
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