The FBI’s public corruption division sets the gold standard for investigating fraud, bribery, and abuse of office at all levels of government. Their comprehensive approach to documenting evidence, protecting whistleblowers, and pursuing accountability provides valuable insight into what constitutes criminal behavior versus poor management. For communities dealing with suspected corruption in local government, understanding federal investigation standards helps distinguish between prosecutable offenses and administrative failures. The FBI’s public corruption resources outline the types of evidence needed, legal protections available to reporters, and how federal agencies coordinate with local authorities when municipal corruption crosses jurisdictional lines.
Read the FBI’s complete guide to public corruption investigations →Here.