A corruption probe is an investigation into allegations of corrupt behaviour in a public office or company. These investigations are often the result of whistle-blower reports from citizens, employees or journalists. Alternatively, the investigations may be initiated by a police agency or specialised anti-corruption commission.
Corruption is the abuse of power for personal gain or profit. The corruption of public officials is a serious crime, which can lead to significant harm to the people and communities in the jurisdiction affected by the corruption. A corruption probe aims to uncover the truth, protect the innocent and uphold the integrity of the justice system.
Most cases of corruption are uncovered or discovered internally, as employees working in the organization have the best access to information and knowledge about their work. This means that they are usually the first to identify mistakes or patterns of misbehaviour and inform their supervisors. For example, when City of Dixon comptroller Rita Crundwell was found stealing from the municipality, her colleagues were the ones who noticed that the books didn’t add up and alerted their superiors.
When a corruption report is made, the investigating authorities need to decide whether or not to prosecute. This decision is based on whether or not the evidence collected is sufficient to meet an evidentiary threshold. The process of evaluating this evidence can be lengthy, complex and time-consuming. As a result, many governments have specialized units dedicated to investigating corruption cases.