The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) responds to scores of complaints, initiates dozens of investigations and trains hundreds of government employees. While much of our work is confidential, our annual reports detail completed projects that can be made public.
- This page, OIG Annual Reports, is offered by
- Office of the Inspector General
OIG Annual Reports
Table of Contents
OIG Annual Reports - 1995 to present
In 2020, the OIG assisted public employees facing new challenges because of the pandemic, continued to cultivate a diverse, skilled and engaged workforce, and recovered $1.8 million in restitutions and settlements.
In 2019 the OIG's accomplishments included expanding our training program to new locations throughout the state and launching online training videos, welcoming our first Dr. Frances Burke Investigator Fellow and our first Justice Geraldine Hines Legal Fellow, and responding to 1,380 complaints on our Fraud Hotline.
In 2018, the OIG’s accomplishments included launching a five-year strategic plan, creating two fellowships, and establishing the Division of State Police Oversight and the Civil Recovery Unit.
In 2017 the OIG conducted investigations and reviews in areas such as aviation, health and human services, library administration, pharmacy services, public procurement, public benefits, public works, state pensions and transportation.
In 2016, the OIG’s efforts resulted in recoveries and fines totaling more than $6.5 million. Our office identified nearly $1 million in lost toll revenue. We also found that the state will pay an estimated $1 million for MassDOT’s emergency-services contracts with 19 cities and towns along the Massachusetts Turnpike.
In 2015, our office conducted investigations and reviews in such areas as education, healthcare, public benefits, criminal justice, public construction, social services and transportation. Our efforts resulted in settlements and fines totaling over $1M, and we identified almost $1M in forfeited transportation revenue.
The OIG’s investigation of former president of Westfield State University Evan S. Dobelle’s spending practices uncovered tens of thousands of dollars of personal spending on WSU credit cards. Our report on the William A. Hinton State Laboratory Institute received the Manuel Carballo Governor’s Award for Excellence.
In 2013, the OIG identified $42.5 million in potential cost savings per year for the Commonwealth. Our largest investigation involved the Forensic Drug Laboratory at the Hinton State Laboratory Institute. Our newly-formed Bureau of Program Integrity performed a broad review of the Department of Transitional Assistance.
In 2012 the OIG investigated and reviewed matters involving energy, public corruption, affordable housing, social services, transportation and education.
In 2011, the OIG’s investigations and reviews included public works, public administration, municipal finances and pension abuse. Our staff was also instrumental in investigating the case against former Massachusetts House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi, who was found guilty for his involvement in a kickback scheme.
In 2010, the OIG’s investigations and reviews included pension abuse, records conservation, disabled parking placard abuse, as well as crimes against municipalities including bid rigging, larceny, and misappropriation of public funds. Our investigations and reviews led to almost $1M in recoveries and collections.
In 2009, the OIG identified abuses of the cost certification process under Chapter 40B. We participated on the task force for the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, recommending refinements to procurement statutes. We also recovered $13M from a software firm due to a flawed procurement.
During 2008, the OIG continued its ongoing investigation into the Chapter 40B cost monitoring process for affordable home ownership. Our investigations resulted in indictments of two Boston Housing Authority employees and three MBTA construction division inspectors.
Highlights of the OIG’s work in 2007 include a case uncovering widespread abuse of disabled persons’ parking placards and a case that led to the indictment of two men who allegedly defrauded the state out of $250,000 on the Central Artery/Tunnel project, as well as the continued monitoring of Chapter 40B.
In 2006 the OIG highlighted abuse and apparent fraud in M.G.L. c. 40B developments, with more than $1.8 million owed to affordable housing funds; identified $1.9 million in secret fees charged to the Middlesex Retirement System, of which they recovered $1 million from a brokerage firm, and uncovered pension fund abuse
OIG Embedded Unit Annual Reports
The 2021 report includes information on reviews and activities related to transportation spending and operations.
The Office of the Inspector General's Internal Special Audit Unit (ISAU)'s annual report summarizes investigations, reviews and audits conducted in 2020.
The Office of the Inspector General's (OIG) Internal Special Audit Unit (ISAU) continued its efforts to monitor the quality, efficiency and integrity of MassDOT’s and the MBTA’s operating and capital programs.
The Office’s Internal Special Audit Unit issued its Annual Report for 2018.
During calendar year 2021, the Division of State Police Oversight in the Office of the Inspector General conducted several reviews and made recommendations to improve the Massachusetts State Police's operational efficiency and integrity.
In 2020, the Division of State Police Oversight undertook a variety of reviews and investigations to fulfill its statutory mandate to monitor the quality, efficiency and integrity of the operations of the Massachusetts State Police (MSP).
In 2019, the Division of State Police Oversight (DSPO), an embedded division of the Office of the Inspector General, undertook a variety of reviews and investigations to fulfill its statutory mandate to monitor the quality, efficiency and integrity of the operations of the Massachusetts State Police (MSP).
The Legislature established the Division of State Police Oversight in 2018 as an independent unit responsible for monitoring the quality, efficiency and integrity of the Massachusetts State Police.
Contact
Phone
Open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., M-F
Online
Address
Room 1311
Boston, MA 02108
Feedback
Survey
Thanks, your survey has been submitted to the Mass.gov team!
If you would like to continue helping us improve Mass.gov, join our user panel to test new features for the site.
Join user panel