State Report Recommends Inspector General, Anti-Corruption Tools

Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the TRUST Commission released a report on January 7 calling for new measures to combat corruption and improve transparency across New Jersey. Key recommendations include the creation of an Inspector General’s Office within the Department of Law and Public Safety and expanded tools for oversight and accountability.

The proposed Inspector General would be authorized to investigate civil misconduct, issue subpoenas, publish findings, and refer matters for criminal prosecution. According to the report, “This is what the public demands and what the government must demand of itself.”

The TRUST Commission—short for Transparency and Reliability Uniting to Secure Trust—was established in 2025 and conducted public listening sessions in North and South Jersey. Community members raised concerns about government corruption, lack of awareness around reporting misconduct, and abuse in group homes for individuals with disabilities.

The Commission also recommended legislation to address conflicts of interest, criminalize misleading statements in public contract bids, and establish a state-level offense for lying to government officials.

“I established the TRUST Commission to bring together well-respected and accomplished New Jersey leaders to help us find ways to serve residents and respond to their concerns,” Platkin said. “So many people have lost faith in their government and believe that government often does the bidding of the powerful and the privileged, against the will, and at the expense, of the people.”

The report also proposes more staffing and funding for the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability, the formation of a Compliance Unit, and a more user-friendly portal for reporting corruption.