Cook County Office of the Independent Inspector General
Cook County OIIG
Summary
The Cook County Office of the Independent Inspector General (OIIG) was established by Ordinance 07-O-52 in 2007 to detect, deter, and prevent corruption, fraud, waste, and misconduct across all Cook County government operations. Its statutory jurisdiction expressly covers all elected and appointed officials, including the independently elected Sheriff, and OIIG investigators carry sworn peace-officer authority including subpoena power. The office publishes quarterly public reports and operates a Memorandum of Understanding with the Cook County Sheriff's Office of Professional Review for coordinated handling of sheriff-related misconduct complaints. Its powers are advisory — it issues findings and recommendations rather than imposing discipline directly on the Sheriff or Sheriff's personnel.
Independence Scorecard
| Appointment | Mixed (multi-branch) |
|---|---|
| Term length | 6 years |
| Removal standard | For cause only |
| Budget independence | Legislative line item |
| Subpoena power | Yes |
| Compel testimony | Yes |
| Records access | Full access |
| Public reports required | Yes |
| Pre-publication review | None — reports published directly |
Statute
- Name
- Cook County Code of Ordinances, Chapter 2, Article IV, Division 5
- Citation
- Cook Cty. Code §§ 2-281 et seq. (Ordinance 07-O-52, as amended)
- Full text
- Full text of law →
Jurisdiction scope
All Cook County government departments, bureaus, boards, agencies; all appointed and elected officials (including the separately elected Sheriff) and employees in performance of official duties; contractors doing business with the county