NCJ Number
110055
Date Published
1988
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This speech focuses on public corruption as a problem for States as well as for the Federal (executive and legislative branches) Government.
Abstract
The author states that much can be done to stop public corruption. He reports that from 1981 to 1986, the U.S. Attorney's office in Massachusetts indicted 111 individuals on public corruption charges and convicted all but 3. Thus, aggressive investigation and prosecution of public corruption cases can produce results. The author says that public corruption is not a victimless crime. At stake, he argues, are the interests of the average citizen. Public corruption drives good people from the public arena and undermines citizen participation in electoral and governmental systems. Therefore, citizens must be made aware that public corruption affects them directly and personally. Citizens must be encouraged to become intolerant of even petty corruption. To make these points, the U.S. Department of Justice has published a manual for investigators and prosecuting attorneys on public corruption and how to fight it. The author points out that local and State resources are limited and are often spent to combat street crime; discusses how States can increase their capacities to combat corruption; and argues that the U.S. Congress should apply the provisions of several Federal statutes, including conflict of interest laws, to its own members. All laws prohibiting corruption at the Federal level should apply equally to the legislative and executive branches.