Ohio Office of the Inspector General

The Ohio Office of the Inspector General is a government entity based in Columbus, Ohio, with a staff of 16 employees. The office investigates fraud, waste, abuse, and corruption within the executive branch of the state government. They review complaints and determine if there is reasonable cause to believe that a state officer, agency, or employee has committed a wrongful act or omission. The Office of the Inspector General also investigates the misuse of ARRA (federal stimulus) funds received by or allocated through executive state agencies. Their jurisdiction extends to the Governor, his staff, state agencies, departments, boards, commissions, and any other entities subject to the Governor's authority. At the conclusion of each investigation, the Office of the Inspector General provides a report to the Governor and the agency under investigation, including recommendations to address and prevent future occurrences of fraud, waste, abuse, or corruption. When appropriate, the report may be forwarded to a prosecutor for potential criminal prosecution. For more information, visit watchdog.ohio.gov.