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20 Questions on the Office of
Ohio Inspector General
The Answers
What
is the function of the Office of Inspector General?
The function of
the Office of Inspector General is to investigate allegations of wrongful acts or omissions committed within the
executive branch state government.
When
should I contact the Office of Inspector General?
You should contact
the Office of Inspector General whenever you suspect or witness a wrongful act or omission by a state agency or
official.
How
do I file a complaint?
A complaint may
be filed with this office in writing, preferably on one of our complaint forms.
How
do I file a complaint without fear of losing my job?
Under certain circumstances,
the Office of Inspector General may be able to provide you confidentiality. In addition, there are provisions under
Ohio law to protect employees from retaliation under certain circumstances. You should contact a private attorney
for more information.
Where
can I obtain a complaint form?
Complaint forms
can be obtained in three ways. You may contact our office, and we will mail a complaint form to you. If you have
access to a fax machine, a complaint form can be sent to you. In addition, a complaint form may be downloaded from this web site.
How
long does it take to complete an investigation?
We often receive
inquiries from individuals wanting to know how long a particular investigation will last. Unfortunately, a specific
time period cannot be provided for every case. Generally, the time period is determined by the nature of the allegations,
the number of interviews needed to be completed, whether the case is undergoing a criminal investigation by law
enforcement, the priority level of the case and other factors.
What
kind of communication can I expect from the Office of Inspector General after I file my complaint?
After you file
a complaint with this office, you will receive an acknowledgment letter. The acknowledgment letter will identify
a file ID number for your complaint and identify the investigator assigned to the case. Generally, we will contact
you if we need additional information or clarification. However, you may always feel free to contact this office
and check on the status of the case.
Are
complaints kept confidential once received by the Office of Inspector General?
All records pertaining
to an active investigation are considered confidential and therefore not subject to public release. However, once
an investigation is closed, some records may be subject to review pursuant to Ohio's public records laws. Generally,
the complaint form is a public record once an investigation is closed. If confidentiality is granted to someone,
it is the Inspector General's policy not to release his or her name unless compelled to do so by a court of law.
What
is the Office of Inspector General's jurisdiction?
The Office of Inspector
General has jurisdiction over all state agencies and state employees within the executive branch of state government.
This 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, any Ohio court, the offices of secretary
of state, auditor, treasurer, attorney general, their staff and employees.
What
happens if the Office of Inspector General does not have jurisdiction over a matter?
You will receive
written notification of that fact. Whenever possible, we will refer you to the appropriate agency or organization
that can provide assistance.
Are
law enforcement agencies affiliated with the Office of Inspector General?
No, the Office
of Inspector General is not a law enforcement organization (e.g., we do not have power of arrest). However, any
unlawful or criminal conduct discovered during the course of an investigation will be referred to the appropriate
law enforcement entity or prosecutor's office.
What
powers are available to the Office of Inspector General?
The Inspector General
or any of his appointed deputies may issue subpoenas requiring the appearance of anyone for questioning and the
production of any books, records or other documents. He or any deputy may also appear at will before any state
agency under its jurisdiction or entity doing business with the state and question any individual or secure anything
necessary in furtherance of an investigation. The Inspector General or any of his deputies may also administer
oaths prior to questioning.
When
are reports of investigations made available to the public?
A report of an
investigation is available to the public at the conclusion of the investigation by the Office of Inspector General.
How
do I obtain a copy of a report of investigation?
You may obtain
a copy of any report of investigation by contacting our office. You may also download copies of some reports from our web page. If you do not
see a report on our web page, please contact our office for assistance.
What
is the difference between the Office of Inspector General and the Legislative Office of Inspector General?
The Ohio Inspector
General has jurisdiction over the administrative branch of government. The Legislative Inspector General has jurisdiction
over the Ohio General Assembly.
What
is the purpose of the annual report?
By statute, the
Ohio Inspector General must prepare and submit an annual report to the Governor, members of the Ohio General Assembly
and County Prosecutors reporting on the activities performed by this office and its staff. The report is released
during the month of March of each year and is available to the public for a nominal fee. The inspector general
is pleased to make available annual
reports from previous
years via this web site.
How
large is the Office of Inspector General?
The Office of Inspector
General is a relatively small investigative agency. Currently the office is supported by a dedicated full-time
staff of nineteen people.
Is
the Inspector General's Office a state agency?
Yes, the Office
of Inspector General is a state agency created by the Ohio General Assembly. The laws governing this office can
be found at this Web site.
What
information is available from this Web site?
This site will
constantly be updated. You should check it often. Generally, reports of investigations, annual reports, press releases
and other information about this office will be available.
What
do I do if I have a question which is not answered on this page?
Call our office at (614) 644-9110 or toll free at 1-800-686-1525. You may also e-mail us at oig_watchdog@oig.state.oh.us.
We will be happy to answer any questions not addressed on this page.
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