NCJ Number
126258
Date Published
1991
Length
14 pages
Annotation
Whistle-blowers are seldom rewarded, but are all too frequently discharged; demoted; reassigned to less desirable, less lucrative and less responsible positions; harassed; and black-listed for further employment in their profession or occupation. This essay studies the motivations of whistle-blowers, who know what their fate could be yet still "blow the whistle" and reviews what happened to the whistle-blowers in several real cases.
Abstract
The study highlights four categories of real whistle-blower cases: Federal agency cases, State and local government cases, private corporation cases, and academic cases. The question is then asked as to what can be done to encourage and protect the whistle-blower from retaliation because, in all cases studied, the whistle-blower suffered some form and level of retaliation. A number of agencies are specifically charged with receiving, investigating, and responding to exposures of misdeeds and protecting the whistle-blower from retaliation. Several cited incidents show that these agencies have been uniformly inactive and ineffective. The Whistle-Blower Protection Act was signed into law in 1989; but the effectiveness of legislation depends on energetic and enthusiastic implementation, which has not been demonstrated by the overall record to date. 21 references and 1 table.