The report cites examples where organized crime has capitalized on the presence of local corruption. It also highlights different types of corrupt schemes involving crooked land use decisions, tarnished inspections, purchasing kickbacks in several industries, hiring abuses, exploitation of social benefit programs, embezzlement of government funds, and misuse of government property and services. Local government corruption persists because it occurs in secret and offenders have confidence in their ability to get away with it. Corruption investigations are difficult and complex, often revealing a high degree of tolerance even among shakedown victims. Honest officials and private citizens must "blow the whistle" on illicit schemes, and government must continue to devote resources to detecting and prosecuting corruption. Recommendations to eliminate corruption in New Jersey focus on having an inspector general in government agencies, electronic surveillance, civil remedies, debarment of corrupt contractors, more rigorous ethics standards, public office or employment ineligibility for individuals convicted of corruption, denial of public pensions, pretrial intervention, expungements, education and publicity, restrictive or model bid specifications, competition, affidavits of noncollusion, reporting of bribes and kickbacks, campaign finance regulation, better audit procedures, receipting systems, budget caps, accountability, and whistleblower protections. 277 endnotes