DECISIONS FOR SALE - CORRUPTION AND REFORM IN LAND-USE AND BUILDING REGULATION

• NCJ Number: 59259
• Author(s): J A GARDINER; T R LYMAN
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 234 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: Praeger Publishers
• Sale Source: Praeger Publishers
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PRAEGER SPECIAL STUDIES

Annotation

DOCUMENTING LAND-USE CORRUPTION IN CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES ACROSS THE U.S., THIS TEXT SCRUTINIZES ALL ASPECTS OF THE REGULATORY SYSTEM, DESCRIBING THE MECHANISMS OF PLANNING, ZONING, AND CODE ENFORCEMENT.

Abstract

THE TEXT TAKE UP FORMS OF CORRUPTION RANGING FROM THE $10 BRIBE A CLERK RECEIVES TO EXPEDITE A BUILDING PERMIT TO THE MAJOR FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN DEVELOPERS AND OFFICIALS TO AUTHORIZE ZONING CHANGES. THE GENERAL ARGUMENT ASSUMES THAT LAND-USE AND BUILDING REGULATION PROGRAMS, AND CORRUPTION RELATING TO THEM, ARE INTIMATELY TIED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL, ADMINISTRATIVE, AND POLITICAL SYSTEMS. FURTHERMORE, THE PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF CORRUPTION IN A COMMUNITY IS IN PART A REFLECTION OF THE WAYS IN WHICH THE COMMUNITY RESPONDS TO CORRUPT INCIDENTS, AS CORRUPTION CAN OCCUR ONLY WHEN THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR IT AND PARTICIPANTS WHO CAN REALIZE BENEFITS THAT EXCEED COSTS. A BASIC INTRODUCTION TO LAND-USE AND BUILDING REGULATION SYSTEMS DESCRIBES THE MECHANISMS OF PLANNING, ZONING, AND BUILDING AND HOUSING CODE ENFORCEMENT. CASE STUDIES OF COMMUNITY EXPERIENCES WITH CORRUPTION (ZONING PAYOFFS, FRADULENT REFORM, CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING INSPECTION CORRUPTION, REZONING, AND HOUSING REHABILITATION FRAUD) ARE PRESENTED. THE STUDIES RELATE TO REAL EXPERIENCES IN EIGHT CITIES AND COUNTIES. A CASE STUDY OF AN ENGINEERING PROJECT IN ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, ILL., IS PROVIDED AS EVIDENCE THAT INTEGRITY CAN BE PRESERVED WITH THE CONSTANT VIGILANCE OF A CONCERNED COMMUNITY. AN ANALYSIS OF HOW AND WHY CORRUPTION OCCURS HIGHLIGHTS OPPORTUNITY AND INCENTIVE CONCEPTS. FINALLY OUTLINES FOR BOTH THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL PLANS TO REDUCE THE FREQUENCY AND IMPACT OF CORRUPTION ARE PRESENTED. THESE OUTLINES ARE BASED ON A FEW LOGICAL PRINCIPLES--CORRUPTION WILL CEASE OR DECELERATE WHEN OPPORTUNITIES ARE REDUCED, WHEN THE COSTS EXCEED THE BENEFITS, AND WHEN COMMUNITY INTEGRITY EXPECTATIONS ARE DEFINED AND REINFORCED. THE APPENDIXES PROVIDE RESEARCH METHODOLOGY FOR THE STUDY OF OFFICIAL CORRUPTION, A DISCUSSION OF POTENTIAL CORRUPTION PROBLEMS, AND AN INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE CORRUPTION QUESTIONNAIRE. TABULAR AND GRAPHIC DATA AND AN INDEX ARE PROVIDED. (DAG)