Corruption, when misused for personal gain, damages a society by undermining democracy and stifling economic growth. It draws negative media attention, diverts resources and distorts laws. The effects can be long-lasting, as trust and reputation are eroded in the affected individuals and companies. Effective prevention measures are needed to address this pervasive problem.
Criminal corruption involves illegal activities such as embezzlement, bribery and fraud. These acts can range from misdirection of company funds, skimming foreign aid money or fraudulent election results to stealing a politician’s vote in return for cash. Examples include the case of Dixon, Illinois city clerk Lori Crundwell, who stole millions of dollars from the city over 20 years. She used her position as the city clerk to give money and jobs to family members, smuggled funds in suitcases while traveling and lied about her expenses on tax returns.
A common form of government corruption is nepotism, which includes granting family members high-ranking positions in the administration. Other forms of government corruption are bribery, illegal campaign contributions and conflicts of interest.
Police agencies and specialized anti-corruption commissions have to evaluate whether they can build a solid evidentiary case for each report of corrupt conduct. They have extensive investigative powers including seizing articles and documents, interviewing witnesses and executing search warrants. In addition, they must adhere to policies of confidentiality and legal procedures to protect the integrity of the investigation. It is also important that they establish clear protocols about which reports can be investigated internally and those that must be referred to external bodies. This is to avoid arbitrary selection of cases that can be pursued or, worse, cases that are most advantageous to the organization or State.