NJ Spent $23M on Unemployment and Other Benefits for Jailbirds

A New Jersey state audit released Wednesday shows that prison inmates have been picking up unemployment checks, as well as healthcare and retirement entitlements, to the tune of millions of taxpayer dollars. According to the report by Comptroller Matt Boxer, New Jersey shelled out $23 million to jailbirds from June 2009 to April 2011. The checks came from jobless benefits, Medicaid, food stamps, pensions and other programs.

The state has not been reviewing prison data before signing away the cash. Boxer states that the government will claw back the cash somehow and from now on, will check prison rolls.