Running head: PUBLIC CORRUPTION

Public Corruption
Madelyn T. Krieger
University of Texas at El Paso

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Abstract

This paper explores the issue of government corruption but at a local and state level of
government. Local government corruption is the most common crime to happen in a state or
local level of government. In a study that was conducted through all fifty states between the
years 2001-2010, the state of Texas had 697 convictions of public corruption (Maciag, 2012). In
a 2010 study, out of about two million government workers only about 2.8 convections for every
hundred thousand government employees were convicted in terms of corruption (Maciag, 2012).
Every state in the United States has a certain percentage of government corruption. Government
corruption is an important issue that many Americans can never really comprehend the effects of
public corruption on their day-to-day lives. Without bringing awareness to the issue, government
officials will continue violating their appointed power and the lives of people will change under
the hand of these officials.
Keywords: corruption, government, abuse of power, crime, local

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Public Corruption

Public corruption is a big problem here in the United States. All throughout all 50
states a great majority are involved in illegal corruption. Illegal corruption in government is
when a person of power uses their elected power to benefit themselves personally or they dont
keep in mind the well-being of the city or state they are in charge of. Though according to a 2010
study spanning over ten years, 44 percent of all corruption scandals are convicted in local
government (Maciag, 2012). At a state level of corruption, only 9 percent is convicted at a state
level (Maciag, 2012). Government corruption is a big issue that contributes to our lives in more
way than one. Public corruption poses a fundamental threat to our national security and way of
life. It impacts everything neighborhoods protectionto verdicts handed down in
courtsto the quality of our roads, schools, and other government services (Federal Bureau of
Investigation [FBI]. 2015.). The state of Texas is considered one of the most corrupt states in
America when it comes to illegal corruption (Maciag, 2012).
Public Corruption
Public corruption is considered a felony in all fifty states in America. The Federal Bureau
of Investigation (FBI) is in charge of persecuting public officials for public corruption. Its also
the FBIs top criminal investigative priority ([FBI], 2010). In an interview with an assistant
chief of the Public Corruption/ Civil Rights program of the FBI, Special Agent Patrick Bohrer, he
considered public corruption to be such a high priority for the FBI because public officials that
corrupt the system undermine our countrys national security, our overall safety, the public trust,
and confidence in the U.S government (Bohrer. 2010). The result of public corruption can
benefit one or a few people involved but it will never benefit the citizens. Public corruption can

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be described as when a person in government uses their own appointed power in exchange for a
bribe, a vote, or any other thing that can benefit them solely. Bribery seems to be the most
common kind of corruption scandal involved in public corruption. Public officials will usually
use any economic advantage they can find to get them to benefit from it personally.
Types of Public Corruption
There are five categories of public corruption cases that the FBI investigates primarily in:
legislative, regulatory, contractual, and law enforcement.
Legislative Corruption and Judicial Corruption. (Einstein Law, 2015) Legislative and
Judicial corruption deal with legislators (law makers) and judges (law enforcement) influence.
According to the Justice Departments Report to Congress on the Activities and Operations of
Public Integrity Section the state of Texas legislatures illegal corruption rate is considered
moderately common (Dincer & Johnston, 2014). The state of Texas judiciary system was
categorized as slightly common in terms of illegal corruptions (Dincer & Johnston, 2014).
Regulatory Corruption. Regulatory corruption involves the involvement of government
investigatory, such as those that are looking into corporate scandals. (Einstein Law, 2015)
Contractual Corruption. Contractual corruption is considered to be an illegal due to persuasion
connected with distribution of government contracts (Einstein Law, 2015).
Law Enforcement Corruption. Law enforcement corruption is an illegal act of trying to sway
officers of the law (Einstein Law, 2015).
Investigation into Public Corruption

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To charge a public official with a corruption charge there has to be hard evidence
showing that the public official was involved in the scandal. The Federal Bureau of
Investigations (FBI) uses different methods of investigation to uncover corruption of public
officials, such as, undercover operations, court-authorized surveillance, and informants
Bohrer (2010) explained in a Q and A with the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI).
According to Bohrer (2010), (How does the FBI investigate public corruption?, para. 5) . The
FBI is able to witness events of corruption through these many forms of investigation including
assistance from state and local partners. Through the evidence collected the FBI there has clear,
real, hard evidence that gives reasoning to charge an official with the crime of corruption.
Texas State Laws on Public Corruption
The following are Texas state laws on public corruption: Offering, conferring, or agrees
to confer on another, or solicits, accepts, or agrees to accept a bribe (C 36.02). This is a second
degree felony that by punishment can result in a maximum of 2-10 years imprisonment with a
maximum fine of $10,000. The following is classified as a Class A misdemeanor: Soliciting,
accepting, or agreeing to accept an honorarium in consideration for services that the public
servant would not have been requested to provide but for the public servants official position or
duties (PC 36.07). Public official solicits, accepts, or agrees to accept any benefit from a
person the public servant knows to be subject to regulation, inspection, or investigation by the
public servant or his agency (PC 36.08). A Class A misdemeanor is punishable by a maximum
sentence of one year of imprisonment including a maximum fine of $4,000. Coercing another to
suppress information (PC 39.06). This is a Class C misdemeanor that is punishable with a
maximum fine of $500. A nepotism violation is a criminal penalty (GC 572.084). This is a

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misdemeanor with the maximum fine of $100 to $1,000. (National Conference of State
Legislatures [NCSL], 2015)
The Effects of Public Corruption
A public officials decision to become involved in a corruption scheme can affect a whole
community, city, and even a state. Corruption between public figures involving ones appointed
power can bring them a personal win but the community is subject to losing. The effects of
corruption on a community can impact taxes, welfare, institutions, and over all the well-being of
the people. Here in the United States people vote in their government. The potential government
official puts up a public front to show that the public will be in good hands under their
leadership. But most of the time it is an imaginary front, a person seeking a federal position uses
to gain votes to be instated for the power. The power they are given is then abused for their own
personal vendetta. Here are some effects of public corruption on people of the community:
Investment projects are the most frequent fronts of high-level corruption. Public officials have
the power to decide on the investment of the project. A great majority of the time Public
projects have been carried out specifically to provide opportunities to some individuals or
political groups to get commissions (Tanzi, 1998, p. 568). According to a study from the
National Bureau of Economic Research (2011) the convection of federal corruption of 1 per
100,000 residents is associated with a 5.9% greater probability that a community will offer direct
tax reductions. In terms of losing money in corruption it renders a principle unwilling or
incapable of increasing public welfare. (Lambsdorff, 2001, p.32). The most important of all the
effects public corruption has on a community is mistrust in elected officials. Through this
mistrust then in local government is doesnt help the citizens feel like they are in the presence of

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an effective leader. With no trust in public officials then the government is bound to be chaotic
leaving both the government and the citizens running in madness.
Conclusion
Through this paper it is conclusive to say that corruption plays big deal in our
government locally and federally. Through the given statistics of the rate of corruption is at
44%at local government level (Maciag, 2012); well above any other level of government. It is
made clear that local governments, especially in Texas need to be reconsidered or reorganized.
Corruption can affect any governed community and it only takes one person of power to abuse
their privileges that were appointed from the people that trusted them to govern. This country
was found on the principles of basic mistrust in human nature and it proves to continue on to this
day. People with elected power are chosen to lead the people of a city, state, or country. If there is
no honest leading, then what do we have as a government. The only solution to a corrupt
government is charging public officials in a federal court. The justice system has to do their job
to keep people like these corrupt public officials out of governing cities, states, and countries.
The same goes for the public; the public votes for the person that promises to give the most to
the people but the people dont think what it will take for the elected official to make those
promises. At times elected officials cant fulfill said promises because those promises can corrupt
the government or the area in which someone is governing. The only solution that can be offered
to this problem is that the government keep everyone involved in it honest and checked. The
people have to contribute their right to vote for a person that will be a great leader for the area
and wont make promises that are empty and end the governed area into corruption. As a whole
everyone can help prevent this problem from escalating.

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