Department of Justice Seal Department of Justice
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2008
WWW.USDOJ.GOV
AG
(202) 514-2007
TDD (202) 514-1888

Fact Sheet: the Department of Justice Public Corruption Efforts

"The investigation and prosecution of public corruption is among the highest obligations of law enforcement, and it should come as no surprise that I consider it to be one of the top priorities of the Department of Justice. In recent years, the Department's career prosecutors and criminal investigators have been engaged in a renewed effort to pursue corruption at all levels and all branches of government," said Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey.

At every level of government, the Justice Department is committed to enforcing the laws that protect the integrity of our government. Because of this commitment to the rule of law, ordinary citizens are able to rely on and expect the honesty and integrity of government officials and other holders of the public's trust.

Over the last seven years, the Department has enjoyed tremendous success rooting out corruption and holding public officials who misuse their office or misspend taxpayer dollars accountable for their actions.

From 2001 to 2006 (the most recent period for which data is available) the Department of Justice charged 6,899 individuals with public corruption offenses nationwide and obtained 5,876 convictions. An overview of the Department's recent activities in this area includes the following:

The Criminal Division's Public Integrity Section

Year Defendants Charged Defendants
Convicted/Pleaded Guilty
2001 57 36
2002 37 45
2003 85 61
2004 48 43
2005 95 * 84
2006 43 63
TOTAL 365 332
PER YEAR AVG. 60.83 55.33
Year Defendants Charged Defendants
Convicted/Pleaded Guilty
1993 27 37
1994 38 33
1995 20 31
1996 34 39
1997 35 29
1998 26 33
1999 28 21
2000 32 30
TOTAL 240 253
PER YEAR AVG. 30 31.63

The U.S. Attorneys' Offices:

Year Defendants Charged Defendants
Convicted/Pleaded Guilty
2001 1,087 920
2002 1,136 1,011
2003 1,150 868
2004 1,213 1,020
2005 1,163 1,027
2006 1,150 1,030
TOTAL 6,899 5,876
PER YEAR AVG. 1,149 979
Year Defendants Charged Defendants
Convicted/Pleaded Guilty
1995 1,051 878
1996 984 902
1997 1,057 853
1998 1,174 1,014
1999 1,134 1,065
2000 1,000 938
TOTAL 6,400 5,650
PER YEAR AVG. 1,066 941

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS AND ONGOING EFFORTS - DOMESTIC

Congressional Cases:

The ongoing Abramoff investigation is being conducted by the Public Integrity and Fraud Sections of the Criminal Division and has netted 12 convictions thus far, including the following:

Executive Branch Cases:

Significant State and Local Convictions:

Election Fraud:

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS AND ONGOING EFFORTS - INTERNATIONAL

Iraqi Reconstruction:

FCPA Enforcement

* The numbers for 2005 were skewed as a result of Operation Lively Green, a large-scale undercover investigation into bribery and extortion by military personnel and law enforcement officials along the southwest border.

* These numbers reflect data that is compiled from annual nationwide surveys of the United States Attorneys' Offices by the Public Integrity Section.

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