When the Pork in the Barrel Goes Bad

A California agency failed to account for $425 million to law enforcement and anti-crime groups in five years. California may be forced to return tens of millions of dollars in federal grants to Washington. The California Office of Criminal Justice handed out money to battered women shelters, anti-gang projects and D.A.R.E. Accountants at the Office faile to enter more than $5 million in expense, and at least $2.8 million in money it recieved since 1995. The records were in such a mess that veteran auditors spent $1 million and 1,600 hours to figure out what happened at the now closed office. The money was a mix of state and federal funds. (LAT)