How to Report Corruption or Misconduct

Reporting corruption or misconduct in Philadelphia means choosing among several bodies with different powers. Some investigate and recommend discipline, some enforce the ethics code, some audit, and some prosecute. A report to the right body is more likely to lead to action. This guide describes the channels as of 2026; it does not assess any individual's guilt, and a report is an allegation to be investigated, not a finding. See also Political Corruption Cases in Philadelphia for history.^[1]

1 Step 1: Identify the kind of problem

• Fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement of city funds, employee misconduct: inspector general or controller.
• Conflicts of interest, gifts, campaign-finance and political-activity violations: ethics board.
• Bribery, extortion, theft or other crimes: law enforcement.
• Police conduct: Citizens Police Oversight Commission; see How to File a Complaint.
• Contract wage or diversity noncompliance: Office of Economic Opportunity.

2 Step 2: Choose the body

• Office of the Inspector General (mayoral appointee): receives reports of wrongdoing by city employees, officials, contractors and vendors by phone (215-686-1770) or online form. It can refer matters to prosecutors. The School District has a separate inspector general.
• City Controller (elected): audits, and runs a Fraud Hotline (215-686-3804) and online form for suspected misuse of city resources by an employee, contractor or vendor.
• Board of Ethics: administers and enforces the city's ethics, campaign-finance and lobbying laws; it also gives confidential advice to officials and employees (215-686-9450). See Conflicts of Interest and Pay-to-Play and Campaign Finance in Philadelphia.
• District Attorney: state criminal law prosecutions, including public corruption, within Philadelphia.
• U.S. Attorney's Office and the FBI: federal crimes, such as bribery involving federal funds, which have produced many Philadelphia cases.
• Office of Economic Opportunity Compliance Hotline (215-683-1798, 24 hours, free and anonymous): contract compliance; see Understanding City Contracts and Bids.
• Housing authority and other authorities have their own oversight; see Philadelphia Housing Authority.

If unsure, report to the Inspector General, which routes matters it does not handle.

3 Step 3: Prepare your report

• Say who, what, when, where, and how you know. Distinguish what you saw from what you heard.
• Name the department, contract or program and any amounts or dates.
• Note documents, emails, or witnesses, and where they are. Do not take records you are not authorized to have; ask the agency how to submit evidence.
• Use public records to corroborate: How to Request Public Records.
• Stick to facts and avoid conclusions about motive.

4 Step 4: Anonymity and retaliation

The city lets reporters choose: anonymous (no name, so the office cannot contact you) or confidential (name known only inside the Inspector General's office). Giving a name usually helps investigators ask follow-up questions. City employees and contractors who report wrongdoing in good faith are protected under Executive Order 9-17; tell the Inspector General at the time of reporting if you fear retaliation, and file a separate whistleblower retaliation complaint if it occurs. City workers may also have rights through union contracts and the Civil Service Commission. For legal advice on retaliation, consult an attorney; see Legal Aid and Public Interest Law.^[2]

5 Step 5: After you report

Investigations can take months or years, and agencies often cannot discuss them. Outcomes may include no action, administrative discipline, referral for prosecution, contract termination, or published audit and enforcement results. Board of Ethics settlements and Controller reports are public. Journalists sometimes pursue tips independently; see Local News Media in Philadelphia, and good-government groups in Good Government Groups.

6 Other settings

Misconduct in other systems goes elsewhere: courts and judges to the Pennsylvania Judicial Conduct Board; lawyers to the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania; state officials to the state Attorney General or State Ethics Commission; unions to the U.S. Department of Labor (see Organized Labor in Philadelphia). Voting problems go to the City Commissioners and the District Attorney.

See also: Police Accountability Systems, Sunshine Act and Open Meetings, Good Government Groups

References

1. City of Philadelphia, "Report wrongdoing in city government," phila.gov/services/ethics-transparency (accessed October 2026).
2. Philadelphia Office of the Inspector General, Integrity Works and Executive Order 9-17, phila.gov (accessed October 2026).
3. Philadelphia City Controller, "Fraud Reporting," controller.phila.gov/fraud-reporting.
4. City of Philadelphia, "Report possible fraud, waste, or other issues on contracts," phila.gov (accessed October 2026).