Public Corruption

“Public corruption in any form is the misuse of a public or government office for private gain. Its existence is an indication that something has gone wrong in the management of the government office, whether it be federal, state, or local. In that regard, it is a basic tenet that government is not to be used for personal enrichment and the extending of benefits to the corrupt.

The prevention of corruption is essential not only to make government work for its intended purpose, e.g., ensure that public officials are using their office to further the public interest and not to enrich themselves or others, but also to preserve public confidence in the democratic process.”

Source: “Prosecuting Public Officials/Figures For Corruption: The Approach in the United States” by Michael Hutter, as found on the American Bar Association’s website, americanbar.org.

The Office of the State Attorney for the Fourth Judicial Circuit investigates claims of public corruption through its Special Prosecution Unit.

To provide tips about public corruption, call the office’s hotline at (904) 255-3098 and leave a message.

We will be sharing more of these efforts in the coming weeks and months.