Transforming Corruption on the Local Level
Janet Mielke Schwartz, Ph.D., FAPA, FAAFS, CHPP
President & Forensic Behavioral Scientist
Forensic Fraud Research, Inc.
This presentation serves to educate the global forensic society on the possibility of transforming corruption on the local level when law enforcement does not take the lead. The results of a five-year project within Anywhere Town, Everywhere County, USA provide optimism that corruption may, with persistent effort, be productively transformed. Anywhere Town’s activities are marionetted by a prominent business leader and political fundraising bundler with a cadre of political operatives and whose roots are entrenched with organized crime. Political party loyalty is required to ascend in community leadership. Until recently, major foundations funded 2,000 non-profits. “Spinning a web of bribery and intimidation will, over time, profoundly alter a community’s social and moral values” ~ Anonymous. First discovered was a contract between the water company and two former elected officials that directed profits to them rather than reinvesting in new infrastructure for Anywhere Town. When 22 acts of documented alleged corruption were presented to Everywhere County’s prosecutor, she declined stating, “No one in the state will take this case. I can’t even trust the sheriff.” Rather than to accept defeat, facilitative and collaborative efforts ensued, e.g., leading the sanitary sewer initiative, participating in the Charter Revision Commission, creating a website, and in presenting a Code of Ethics. This presentation traces the steps of the process: Genuinely working to build trust, creating healthy alliances, focusing on creating a “community,” building on the successes, and experiencing joy with the moral change. The hope inspired by the outcome minimizes the inevitable serpent’s whiplash.
Biography
Dr. Janet Schwartz (Ph.D. ’87, University of Pittsburgh) received the University Scholar award presented to “one of those who show high promise of significant contribution to society and progress.” Her presentation, “Psychology of White-Collar Criminals” is featured on USDOJ’s Justice Television Network. She has provided information to the FBI’s HIDTA Money-Laundering Division (Manhattan), the FBI in Washington, D.C., the Defense Intelligence Agency, the CIA, the NSF, the Criminal Investigation Division of the IRS, the USDOHHS, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, the Ohio AG’s Office, Ohio’s Governor’s Office, 19 state departments and U.S. Attorney’s Offices.
Copyright © 2022 Janet Mielke Schwartz. All rights reserved.