Investigations

Abstract This chapter explores the activities of an investigative arm of an office of inspector general (OIG). It describes the three types of investigations an OIG might pursue—criminal, civil, and administrative—providing additional detail about the legal context of such investigations pursued on the federal level. The chapter next explains the investigative process, illuminating the importance of the professional standards that guide an OIG’s investigative activities and the critical role of tools like hotlines and whistleblowers in identifying leads. The chapter also provides an overview of the structure of a typical OIG’s investigative unit, whether the OIG works on the federal, state, or local level, and OIG investigations are placed in historical context. The authors explore not only how investigations have evolved since OIGs were adopted more broadly in the United States, but they also look to the future and discuss how the use of data analytics may support investigations. Overall, this chapter highlights the meticulous nature of an OIG investigation and its role in government oversight, law enforcement, and the pursuit of truth.