NCJ Number
126093
Date Published
1989
Length
38 pages
Annotation
A summary of activities of the Iowa Citizens' Aide/Ombudsman in 1989 is provided.
Abstract
A total of 4,783 complaints were reported to the office by people who believed that they were treated unfairly or inappropriately by agencies of Iowa State or local governments. These complaints covered a wide range of issues: from corrections and parole to transportation service; from education to human services; and from revenue and finance to employment services. Approximately 26 percent of the jurisdictional complaints were found to be justified or partially justified; 44 percent were determined to be unjustified; and 30 percent were either referred, withdrawn, or there was no basis to evaluate the merits of the complaint. Of the 4,783 contacts received during the year, 97 percent were completed and closed during that year. The average length of time that a case remained open during 1989 was slightly more than 13 days. Pursuant to the Iowa code, the Citizen's Aide/Ombudsman is mandated to notify the General Assembly whenever objectionable administrative consequences can be traced to the need for change in legislation. In January 1989, several legislative recommendations were made to the Iowa General Assembly. These concerned amendment of the Sexual Abuse Code; notification of victims and witnesses when an offender expires a sentence, creation of a one-stop employment rights office in the Division of Labor, creation of a civilian law enforcement oversight authority, and creation of a state-wide inspection and regulatory authority over certain firearm shooting ranges. The office of the Citizens' Aide/Ombudsman employs six professional and three clerical staff and has a 1989 annual budget of $434,160. 5 tables, 1 figure, and 1 appendix.