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Ethics Enforcement: Results of Conflict of Interest Investigations

NCJ Number
111768
Date Published
1988
Length
18 pages
Annotation
A review was conducted of alleged violations of criminal conflict of interest statutes reported to 10 agency Offices of the Inspector General (OIG's) during 1985 and 1986.
Abstract
From these sites, agencies had referred 124 allegations to the U.S. Department of Justice for prosecutive action. Of these, 112 involved conflicts of interest. Of the 124 allegations, one resulted in conviction, another is an open case. The Department declined to prosecute 107 of the referrals and has not decided whether to prosecute 13. Agencies took administrative action (e.g., suspension or dismissal) on 22 allegations, including 16 involving conflicts of interest. In response to these results, the Director of the Conflicts of Interest Crimes Branch suggested that conflicts of interest statutes could be amended to provide for misdemeanor penalties in addition to currently available felony penalties and agency administrative action. In addition, civil sanctions could be provided that might have a deterrent effect. Finally, administrative action and the Office of Government Ethics, or a similar office, are essential components of the conflict of interest enforcement scheme. Supplemental survey forms and survey information are appended. Tables.