File a Complaint

We need your help. New York State government employees, by the terms of Executive Law Article 4-A have an obligation to report to us any information regarding alleged corruption, fraud, criminal activity, conflicts of interest or abuse by another State employee or a person having business dealings with the State. If you are aware or have reason to believe that any such misconduct has occurred, please contact us.

How can you get in touch with us?

Your complaint will receive our prompt attention regardless of the method you choose to use.

Here are some examples of conduct that must be reported:

• The giving or receiving of bribes or unlawful gifts;
• Theft or misuse of State property or funds
• Inappropriate use of State computers
• Fraudulent conduct such as falsification of records, material misrepresentations of fact, or irregularities in awarding contracts or grants
• Fraud committed against the State by private individuals and companies
• Serious or systematic leave and travel abuse
• Conflicts of interest
• Discrimination
• Other criminal or inappropriate conduct

If you think it’s wrong, it should be reported to this Office.

What do we need to know?

When you contact us, please be ready to give us as much of the following information as you can:

• Who is engaging in misconduct
• Which State agency is involved
• What wrongdoing occurred
• When it occurred
• Whether there are witnesses to the misconduct
• What laws or agency regulations have been violated

What happens after you file your complaint?

After we receive your complaint, we will evaluate it and, if warranted, open an investigation.  Unless you have chosen to file your complaint anonymously, you may be contacted by us to verify details of the complaint or provide additional information.  If our investigation substantiates your complaint, we will refer the matter for prosecution if criminal conduct has been found, for disciplinary proceedings if violations of agency rules have occurred, for ethical sanctions if ethics violations are discovered or we may recommend changes in agency policy and procedures. 

Confidentiality

When you contact us with a complaint, regardless of the method you choose to use, although you are not required to identify yourself, we do strongly encourage that you do so in the event additional questions arise during the course of our evaluation or investigation.

If you do choose to identify yourself when filing a complaint, please know that it is our strict policy to protect your identity during the course of an investigation, unless you consent to our disclosing that information or we are compelled to disclose it by law or pursuant to a court order.

In addition, New York State law affords “whistle-blower” protection to State employees who report allegations of misconduct: you cannot be disciplined, dismissed or subjected to adverse personnel action because you have filed a complaint with the Office of the State Inspector General.

If you use the On-Line Complaint Form or ordinary e-mail to contact us, you should be aware that the confidentiality of your transmission may be compromised due to the insecure nature of the Internet.  For more information, please review our Privacy Policy.