FILE A COMPLAINT
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FILE A COMPLAINT
Jurisdiction
Prior to filing a complaint, please ensure the Board of Ethics has jurisdiction to consider your case. If you have any questions, please contact the Ethics Office to receive advice.
Personal Jurisdiction:
The Ethics Board has jurisdiction over public officials and employees of DeKalb County. The Ethics Board does not have jurisdiction over state public officials or employees nor does the Ethics Board have jurisdiction over employees of other municipalities (including employees and public officials of incorporated cities within DeKalb County). The Ethics Board does not have jurisdiction over private entities or citizens who are not also DeKalb County employees or public officials. Additionally, the Ethics Board does not have jurisdiction over 1) judges and their respective staffs in the following courts, Superior, State, Probate and Magistrate; 2) the District Attorney; 3) the Solicitor and 4) Clerks of the Superior and State Courts and their respective staffs.
Subject Matter Jurisdiction
The Ethics Board has jurisdiction over the following matters: 1) Conflicts of Interest; 2) Abuses of public office; 3) Inappropriate gifts and gratuities; 4) Misuse of County property; 5) Accounting and audit irregularities.
How to File an Ethics Complaint?
Ethics complaints may be filed using any of the resources below:
To file a written complaint, download the DeKalb County Ethics Complaint Form and send it to the Ethics Office by mail, fax, email, or in person to:
DeKalb County Board of Ethics
Ethics Administrator
178 Sams Street
Decatur, Georgia 30030
Fax: 404-371-7083
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
Call the EthicsPoint Hotline: 1-855-224-8216
Written Complaints
To be considered, any written complaint should contain the following information:
- The name and address of the person filing the complaint;
- The name and address of the party against whom the complaint is filed;
- A clear and concise statement of facts on which the complaint is based, including dates, times, places, and actions;
- A general reference to the provisions of the Code of Ethics that apply;
- Any further information that might support the allegations, including the names, phone numbers, and addresses of other persons with knowledge of the facts and any documents that support the allegations; and
- The sworn verification and signature of the person filing the complaint.
Anonymous Complaints
The ethics officer may also receive anonymous complaints that are made in good faith and with sufficient specificity to provide salient and investigable facts. Any complaint should identify the following:
- The person who is alleged to have committed the violation,
- The facts on which the complaint is based,
- The provisions of the ethics code that have been violated, and
- Any evidence that may support the allegations.
Confidentiality and Public Disclosure
Each complaint shall be deemed a separate pending investigation at the time it is reported. While the filed complaint itself will be made available to the public, the investigative file of the Ethics Office will not. The Board’s records and files in any pending investigation are exempt from disclosure under the Georgia Open Records Act. The entire investigative file shall be made publicly available within ten days after the case is either dismissed/closed or a final hearing has taken place before the Board of Ethics.
EthicsPoint is NOT a 911 or Emergency Service:
Do not use this service to report events presenting an immediate threat to life or property. Reports submitted through this service may not receive an immediate response. If you require emergency assistance, please contact your local authorities.
