In accordance with Title 2.2 Chapter 3.2 (§ 2.2-307 through 2.2-313) of the Code of Virginia, the Office of the State Inspector General is responsible for:

• Investigating complaints alleging fraud, waste, abuse or corruption by an executive branch state agency, non-state agency or officers, employees or contractors of those agencies.

• Administering the Fraud and Abuse Whistle Blower Reward Fund.

• Overseeing the State Fraud, Waste and Abuse Hotline.

• Conducting performance reviews of state agencies.

• Providing training and coordination of standards for the Commonwealth’s internal audit functions.

• Performing inspections and making policy and operational recommendations for the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services facilities and providers.

• Reviewing operations of the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission.

Consistent with these responsibilities, OSIG completed the following activities during fiscal year 2023:

Audit Division

o Issued seven performance audits and one follow-up report.
o Issued 40 findings and observations.
o Issued 90 audit recommendations.
o Staff earned 1,514 hours of continuing education for a total of 33 certifications.
o Gave 21 presentations to state and national audit organizations.

Investigations Division

• Criminal Investigations Unit

o Opened 24 executive branch state agency investigations.
o Investigated allegations of benefits fraud, conflicts of interest, falsifying state documents, procurement violations, and waste and abuse.
o Referred 7 cases for prosecutorial consideration.
o Closed 29 cases.
o Gave four presentations and staff participated in 765 hours of training.

• State Fraud, Waste & Abuse Hotline

o Processed 1,621 complaints.
o Assigned 197 cases for investigation, which totaled 344 separate allegations.
o Of the 182 cases closed, 18 percent were substantiated, 69 percent were unsubstantiated, 10 percent were multiple allegations with both unsubstantiated and substantiated findings and 3 percent were inconclusive.
o Investigated 24 cases in-house for allegations that involved an agency head, internal audit employee or an at-will employee. This resulted in 11 recommendations made to the agencies because of an investigation.
o Completed eight workpaper reviews of an agency’s internal audit program and 45 investigative review follow-ups for compliance with recommendations.
o Delivered more than 63 hours of Hotline awareness events/presentations and participated in nearly 350 hours of training.

• Healthcare Compliance Unit

o Processed 633 complaints.
o Participated in unannounced inspections of 12 DBHDS facilities.
o Staff participated in 138 hours of training to enhance their skills.

Administration Division

• Internal Audit Oversight and Training Services

o Conducted two quality assurance reviews.
o Coordinated 11 training courses, in which 561 internal auditors from across the Commonwealth participated, earning up to 79 continuing professional education credits to maintain certifications necessary for their positions.
o Participated in 79 hours of training to enhance skills.

• Communications Unit

o Responded to 102 Freedom of Information Act inquiries.
o Processed 20 responsive and proactive media contacts.
o Processed 564 citizen inquiries.
o Distributed 14 news releases resulting in multiple statewide media placements.