official misconduct
Abuse of office
Official misconduct is the abuse of a public office for improper purposes—corruption, favoritism, or personal gain.
The term appears in legal codes as a criminal charge against government officials who violate their duties: The sheriff was indicted on three counts of official misconduct.
It covers acts ranging from accepting bribes to falsifying records to using office resources for private benefit.
Corrupt payment for influence
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- graftIllicit political gain
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
- extortionObtaining through threats
money laundering · fraud · racketeering · misappropriation · payola · influence peddling · skimming · malfeasance
Exceed one's capacity
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- intimidationDeliberate fear-inducing pressure
- oppressionUnjust exercise of power
- retaliationPunitive response to injury
harassment · discrimination · profiling · excessive force · due process violation · unlawful arrest · evidence tampering · perjury
Formal examination of facts
- indictmentFormal charge from jury
- resignationVoluntary relinquishment of position
- whistleblowerInsider who reports misconduct
- testimonySworn statement as evidence
trial · impeachment · censure · disbarment · prosecution · accountability · public trust · media scrutiny
Compromised impartiality from competing stakes
- ethics violationBreach of moral standards
- breach of dutyFailing an obligation owed
- noncomplianceFailure to follow requirements
- malpracticeHarmful professional negligence
mismanagement · dereliction · negligence · insubordination · falsification · irregularity · violation · infraction
bribery
Corrupt payment for influence
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- graftIllicit political gain
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
extortion · money laundering · fraud · racketeering · misappropriation · payola · influence peddling · skimming · malfeasance · venality
overreach
Exceed one's capacity
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- intimidationDeliberate fear-inducing pressure
- oppressionUnjust exercise of power
retaliation · harassment · discrimination · profiling · excessive force · due process violation · unlawful arrest · evidence tampering · perjury · obstruction
investigation
Formal examination of facts
- indictmentFormal charge from jury
- resignationVoluntary relinquishment of position
- whistleblowerInsider who reports misconduct
testimony · trial · impeachment · censure · disbarment · prosecution · accountability · public trust · media scrutiny · leak
conflict of interest
Compromised impartiality from competing stakes
- ethics violationBreach of moral standards
- breach of dutyFailing an obligation owed
- noncomplianceFailure to follow requirements
malpractice · mismanagement · dereliction · negligence · insubordination · falsification · irregularity · violation · infraction · breach of trust
- wrongdoingcrime, sabotage, crimes, misbehavior, transgression
- corruptioncorruption, graft, kickbacks, bribery, bribes
- government ethicsethics board, ethics committee, ethics rules, ethics violation, ethics violations
- legal misconductobstruction, perjury, contempt, jury tampering, evidence tampering
- official misconductmalfeasance, ethics violation, misfeasance, nonfeasance, dereliction
- recall electionsrecall election, recall petition, recall vote, recall campaign, ouster
official misconductethical conduct
Morally principled behavior
good governance · professional integrity · professional conduct · exemplary service · compliance
official misconductlegitimate authority
Accepted right to command
rule of law · due process · democratic accountability · checks and balances
office, officer, official, offices, misconduct, unofficial, officially, officials, officialdom