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MISSION
The Office of the Inspector General investigates fraud, waste, abuse,
and corruption within the executive branch of state government. Complaints received by the office are reviewed
and evaluated to determine whether there is reasonable cause to believe the underlying allegations, if true, would
constitute a “wrongful act or omission” on the part of a state officer, agency, or employee. The Office of the Inspector
General also investigates allegations of misuse of ARRA (federal stimulus) funds received by or allocated through executive
state agencies.
The jurisdiction of this office extends to the Governor, his staff, state agencies, departments, boards, commissions,
and any other entities appointed, employed, controlled, directed, or subject to the authority of the Governor.
At the conclusion of an investigation by the Office of Inspector General, a report of investigation is completed
and provided to the Governor and the agency subject to investigation. The report may include recommendations for
the agency to consider in addressing and avoiding the recurrence of fraud, waste, abuse, or corruption uncovered
by the investigation. When appropriate, a report of investigation may also be forwarded to a prosecutor for review
to determine whether the underlying facts give rise to a criminal prosecution.
The Ohio Inspector General serves a valuable role in our state, working to improve the process of government to
ensure that our system of government operates efficiently and without the fraud, waste, and abuse that sometimes
finds its way into government bureaucracies. The Inspector General must also shed light on the corruption that
would cause citizens to lose faith in that system. In essence, as the “State Watchdog” over state government, the
mission of the Office of Inspector General is to make government work for all Ohioans.
HISTORY
The term “inspector general” has been historically associated
with maintaining and improving the operational efficiency of our armed forces. Such an office has existed there
since the time of the first Continental Army. In the 1970’s, Congress adopted the concept and took steps to create
civilian inspectors general to ferret out fraud, waste, abuse and corruption within the federal bureaucracy. In
recent years, many states have created offices of inspector general to address the same issues within state government.
In 1988, the first Office of Inspector General for Ohio was created by Governor Richard Celeste by Executive Order.
In 1990, the Ohio General Assembly passed legislation to make the Office of Inspector General a permanent part
of state government. Statutes relating to the office are set forth in Ohio Revised Code sections 121.41 through
121.50.
These laws give the Ohio Inspector General the authority to investigate wrongful acts or omissions committed by
state officers or state employees involved in the management and operation of state agencies. The jurisdiction
of the Ohio Inspector General extends to all offices and individuals appointed by or under the control or direction
of the Governor of Ohio. Jurisdiction does not extend to the Ohio General Assembly, any court in Ohio or other
elected members of the executive branch of government or their respective offices, (i.e. secretary of state, treasurer,
auditor, attorney general).
Since its inception, the Office of Inspector General has investigated hundreds of complaints of wrongdoing within
state government. Many of these investigations have led to referrals to law enforcement authorities and administrative
recommendations for constructive change in state government.
JURISDICTION
The jurisdiction of the Office of Inspector General extends to
the Governor, his staff, state agencies, departments, boards, commissions, and any other entities appointed, employed,
controlled, directed, or subject to the authority of the Governor. It includes state universities and state medical
colleges but not state community colleges. Also specifically excluded from the office’s jurisdiction are the Ohio
General Assembly, Ohio courts, the offices of secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, attorney general, their staff
and employees. As a general rule, the Office of Inspector General does not become involved in cases involving private
disputes, labor-management issues, or litigation. Matters investigated by the Office of Inspector General may also
fall within the jurisdiction of other agencies. (e.g. law enforcement investigators, prosecuting authorities, Ohio
Ethics Commission, etc.) In such cases, the Inspector General may make a referral to or work together with other
agencies to investigate complaints.
"WRONGDOING" DEFINED
- (a) Any willful act (or) (b) Failure to act or perform
- (a) Committed by any person holding elected or appointed public
office in a state agency, but excluding: (i) Any member of the Ohio General Assembly, (ii) Any Magistrate, Judge
or Justice of an Ohio Court, (iii) The Ohio Secretary of State, (iv) The Auditor of State, (v) The Treasurer of
State, (vi) The Attorney General (or), (b) Committed by any person employed by a state agency as defined in R.C.
1.60, but excluding: (i) The general assembly, (ii) Any court, (iii) The office of the secretary of state, (iv)
The office of the auditor of state, (v) The office of the treasurer of state, (vi) The office of the attorney general
(or), (c) Committed by any person as defined in R.C. 121.41(C) doing business with the State of Ohio
- (a) In the course of holding elected or appointed office public
office in a state agency (or) (b) In the course of employment with a state agency (or) (c) In the course of doing
business with a state agency
- (a) That violates or fails to comply with statutory law (or)
(b) That violates or fails to comply with administrative law (or) (c) That violates or fails to comply with state
policies and procedures (or) (d) That is otherwise deemed to be against good public policy
- Thereby demonstrating the need for: (a) Referral to law enforcement
for criminal prosecution (or) (b) Referral to the subject state agency for administrative action (or) (c) Referral
to another state agency responsible for investigating, auditing, reviewing, or evaluating the management and operation
of state agencies (or) (d) Referral to any state agency as an example of fraud, waste, or abuse in state government.
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