A historically high number of complaints were reported in the annual Executive Inspector General’s report for Fiscal Year 2023. The 66-page report, found here, reveals that 3,078 complaints were filed and 450 investigations were opened based on the information received by the OEIG.
The Office of the Executive Inspector General oversees public agencies and officials holding jurisdiction over state agencies such as the state’s department of corrections, transportation, and human services. It also oversees nearly 300 state boards and commissions along with nine public universities.
Of the 3,078 complaints filed, 450 investigations were opened during FY 23, with the OEIG issuing 147 founded reports of wrongdoing. Troublesome reports ranged from fraudulent conduct, unprofessional conduct and failing to act with integrity, mismanagement, improper reporting, hiring-related improprieties, misuse of state time and resources, and conflicts of interest and distributing confidential information.
Some of the specific reports of wrongdoing include: a human services caseworker who used a link card of an incarcerated individual for 13 months, sexual misconduct within the department of corrections, falsification of education on employment application, improper hiring of family members, and conducting political activities while on state time.
State Senator Sue Rezin says this scathing report is another example of the ongoing issues within the Pritzker Administration. She noted that this report followed several scathing audits of agencies under the governor’s control, including an Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) audit detailing over $5 billion in improper payments made during the pandemic, along with continued issues with the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), and recent news reports of major personnel issues at the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA).