The Commission investigates hundreds of cases alleging violations of the conflict of interest and financial disclosure laws each year. While the Commission resolves most matters confidentially, it resolves certain cases publicly. Public education letters (PEL) , disposition agreements (DA), and decisions and orders (DO) are matters of public record once a case is concluded.

A public education letter (formerly referred to as a public enforcement letter) is issued when the Commission found reasonable cause to believe the law was violated but chose to resolve the case with a PEL because it believes the public interest would best be served by doing so. A PEL does not require the subject to admit a violation of the law and is issued publicly by agreement of the subject.

A disposition agreement is a voluntary written agreement entered into between the subject of a case and the Commission in which the subject admits violating the law and generally agrees to pay a civil penalty.

A decision and order concludes an adjudicatory proceeding or civil trial. The decision is a finding by the Commission that the law was violated and the order determines the civil penalty the subject must pay. The Commission’s decision may be appealed in Superior Court.

The Commission does not comment on any matter under investigation, nor does the office confirm or deny that it has received a specific complaint. The identity of any complainant is kept confidential.

The summaries posted here are updated quarterly.

The complete text for 1992-2002 Public Education Letters, Disposition Agreements and Decision and Orders may be accessed by clicking on the link beneath the corresponding summary. To return to the summary page click on your browser's back button.

For the Commission's most recent cases you may check our press releases which are usually posted within twenty-four hours of being issued.

The complete set of summaries of the Commission's enforcement actions is a lengthy document and may take a few moments to load.

The Enforcement Action Summaries may be searched alphabetically by name. Control F will place a search box on your screen; type in the name and hit enter; click on link.

The Enforcement Action Summaries may be searched chronologically by year. Click on link.

The Enforcement Action Summaries may be searched by keyword. Control F will place a search box on your screen; type in the keyword and hit enter; click on link. Examples of keywords include public roles such as selectman, police officer, legislator, or comptroller; a shortened term for a section of the law such as gratuities, formers or appearances; or a locality such as Boston, Bridgewater, Springfield, or Shutesbury.

NOTICE: Reasonable efforts have been made to assure the accuracy of the documents provided. True copies of any documents contained or referred to herein are available at the Commission's office, One Ashburton Place, Room 619, Boston, MA, 02108 (617-371-9500). If you are in need of legal advice, consult the Legal Division of the State Ethics Commission, Agency Counsel, Municipal Counsel, or a private attorney.