NCJ Number
134799
Journal
Corruption and Reform Volume: 5 Dated: (1990) Pages: 125-151
Date Published
1990
Length
27 pages
Annotation
The article introduces the concept of co-production of services, with emphasis on the importance of citizen assistance to complement government activities to control corruption.
Abstract
In its purest form, citizen production of services to combat corruption occurs "off-budget" in the sense that it involves no public expenditures. Other variations involve the provision of services on a commission basis for a percentage of the funds recovered. Current examples of citizen co-production include the Neighborhood Watch Program, the use of worker safety representatives in Australian regulation of occupational safety and health, the use of consumer volunteers to discover hazardous products in Australia, and citizen involvement to ensure compliance with environmental legislation in the United States. In the area of corruption control, citizen participation is a means of overcoming the culture of apathy within which corruption flourishes and of deterring illicit transactions. Public participation also enhances participatory democracy. Governments have provided legislative, moral, and monetary incentives for citizen assistance. The legislation generally includes provisions to limit false allegations and other abuses. Simplifying laws and regulations and providing as much information as possible to clients of government agencies are crucial methods of promoting effective citizen involvement. 52 references