How is public corruption committed?

Public corruption is when a public employee or official abuses their power for personal gain. It can include a variety of different activities, such as bribery, embezzlement, fraud, kickbacks, and extortion. Bribery is the most common form of public corruption. It occurs when an official or employee is offered, or promises to accept, money or something of value in exchange for a service. For example, a city official could accept money from an individual in exchange for approving a construction permit. Embezzlement is another form of public corruption. This occurs when a person entrusted with public funds takes those funds for their own use. For example, a government employee may use public money to buy personal items or services for themselves. Fraud is the intentional misrepresentation of facts or a deception in order to gain an unwarranted advantage. An example of fraud would be a government official who provides false information on a grant application in order to obtain more money than entitled. Kickbacks, which are payments made as a reward for a service or special favor, are also a form of public corruption. For example, a government contractor could pay government officials in exchange for awarding the contract to them instead of a competitor. Extortion is the use of threats or intimidation to obtain money or something of value from a person. It can also be a public official demanding bribes in exchange for services. For example, a police officer may require an individual to pay a fee in order to get a permit. Public corruption is illegal and punishable by law. In New Jersey, public corruption is covered under the New Jersey Public Corruption Act, which punishes misconduct and abuse of public office for personal profit. Penalties can include hefty fines, imprisonment, and removal from office.

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How is public corruption committed?

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