National Association of Inspectors General Peer Review Finds OIG in Compliance with All Applicable Professional Standards, Notes Independence Threat Posed by City Practices

The City of Chicago Office of Inspector General(OIG) is pleased to announce that it has recently been peer reviewed by the Association of Inspectors General (AIG) and found in compliance with all relevant professional quality standards.

OIG is a member of AIG, a national organization that encourages professional development; standardizes practices, policies, and ethics; and establishes professional qualifications and certifications for Offices of Inspectors General. As a member of AIG, OIG participates in a rigorous peer review process to assess compliance with professional standards. Every three years, OIG invites a team of inspectors from other oversight agencies across the country to review policies and practices, interview staff, etc., in order to determine whether OIG and its work meet the standards of the field and to provide any recommendations to improve operations.

OIG has just completed its 2025 peer review, during which an AIG peer review team examined the work of OIG's Investigations, Public Safety, and Audit and Program Review (APR) sections. The peer review team traveled to Chicago from around the country and reviewed policies, examined records, and interviewed OIG staff and stakeholders inside and outside City government. OIG was assessed for compliance with AIG's Principles and Standards for Offices of Inspector General (the "Green Book"), and the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) Government Auditing Standards (the "Yellow Book"), as applicable. In its opinion letter issued at the conclusion of their onsite visit, the peer review team wrote, "it is the unanimous conclusion of the Team that the APR, Investigations, and Public Safety Divisions met all current and relevant AIG and/or GAO standards for the review period."

In it's subsequently issued management letter, outlining more detailed findings of its review, AIG noted areas of distinction in OIG's work including its "strong working relationships" with stakeholders, noting that OIG "is widely recognized as a vital safeguard for integrity and accountability in city operations." AIG also noted areas for consideration, where it identified opportunities for OIG to improve aspects of its operations.

One area for consideration noted by AIG was the City of Chicago Departmentof Law's practice of demanding to be present in confidential investigative interviews conducted by OIG. The peer review team noted that this issue "merits consideration, particularly in maintaining trust among witnesses and preserving the integrity of inquiries. The mere presence of a City legal counsel, who ultimately represents the City of Chicago, not the interviewee, in OIG interviews creates the appearance of an environment where an interviewee may not be entirely free to speak to the OIG." The peer review team observed that OIG no longer permits City of Chicago attorneys to sit in on investigative interviews, and noted that the issue implicates the Green Book standards on Inspector General independence.

Based on recommendations made by OIG early in the year, there is currently legislation pending before the Chicago City Council which would prohibit this practice by the City, for precisely the reasons identified by the peer review team.

"By inviting peer review, we 'walk the walk' on continuous improvement, transparency, and accountability-just as we ask of the City departments over which we exercise oversight," said Deborah Witzburg, Inspector General for the City of Chicago. "I'm very grateful to the AIG peer review team for their time and expertise, and I appreciate their recognition of OIG's compliance with the exacting standards which govern our work. We, too, are concerned about threats to OIG's independence; we are working to protect effective oversight in Chicago, and we appreciate AIG's affirmation of the need to do so."

Read the Report

Read AIG's letters on OIG's website.

About the Office of Inspector General

The mission of the independent and nonpartisan City of Chicago Office of Inspector General (OIG) is to promote economy, effectiveness, efficiency, and integrity by identifying corruption, waste, and mismanagement in City government. OIG is a watchdog for the taxpayers of the City and has jurisdiction to conduct inquiries into most aspects of City government.

If you see misconduct, mismanagement, ineffectiveness, or inefficiency, we need to hear from you.

Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for the latest information on how OIG continues to fight fraud, abuse, and inefficiency in Chicago government.