Web offers citizens avenue of complaint; Reportitnow.net can help Illinoisans expose unethical activity
The top watch dog for the Illinois Secretary of State hopes a new Web site will encourage Illinois residents to help him root out corruption.
Inspector General Jim Burns' crime-fighting now includes reportitnow.net. It allows the public to file complaints of illegal or unethical activities in the Secretary of State's Office online.
"Any time you can get an extra tool, you take it," Burns said.
People uneasy with speaking to someone might be more comfortable filing a complaint from home, Burns said.
Although some people might mistakenly use it to report dissatisfaction with service, Burns said the site is there to help uncover cases of cheating, such as voucher fraud and bribery.
The Illinois Secretary of State's Office was the heart of far- reaching pay-for-play scandals that became part of the fall of former Gov. George Ryan, who recently was sentenced to 61/2 years in federal prison for assorted criminal actions.
He emphasizes that information on the Web site is seen only by members of his staff. Even Secretary of State Jesse White is on a "need to know" basis, Burns said.
After the site opened in August, there were 26 complaints filed in the first month, 15 of them falling within his jurisdiction, Burns said. Those not involving the Secretary of State's Office were referred to the correct agencies.
Appointed to his position by White in 2000, Burns thinks the public and state employees are more comfortable with his office.
Weeding out internal scams has made employees' lives easier, Burns said.
"All they have to do is their job," he said. "They are not required to buy tickets, contribute to campaigns. They don't have to play those games."
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