A state audit released today shows hundreds of thousands of dollars were improperly spent by the Sixth Judicial District’s Department of Correctional Services. The district covers Benton, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn, and Tama Counties in eastern Iowa.
State Auditor Mary Mosiman says the audit covers a four-year period, between 2008 and 2012. “Those charged with the operations and the Sixth Judicial Board — they had a fiduciary responsibility to exercise authority over their district funds efficiently and effectively and to provide oversight of the district operations and, for a period of time, that did not happen,” Mosiman says.
The state audit was requested by Department of Corrections Director John Baldwin over concerns with the relationship between the district and a corrections non-profit started by former district leader Gary Hinzman. “What we identified was (more than) $775,000 that included improper disbursements, basically district employees who performed duties on behalf of the private organization,” Mosiman says.
Hinzman retired in May after 24 years as district director. The auditor’s report has been turned over to the Iowa Attorney General’s office.