By Associated Press

A state audit says parolees in rural Nevada weren’t required to get as frequent supervision as their urban counterparts.

Lawmakers discussed the Division of Parole and Probation during a Tuesday meeting.

Auditors found parole officers were required to make home visits to sex offenders in Reno and Las Vegas every 60 to 90 days. But there was no such requirement for home visits in rural areas, including Carson City.

Division Chief Natalie Wood said rural officers prioritized their parolees each month and exercised discretion on whether they needed a home visit.

But she also said staffing shortages and long distances to parolees’ homes made it hard to conduct frequent checks.

The audit covered July 2013 to March 2015. Wood says rural visiting standards are now on par with urban standards.