Public corruption appears ubiquitous and increasing in the last few decades, according to public opinion polls. Trials and convictions of public officials usually receive extensive media attention. It is expected that high profile convictions would reduce corruption in an area as it puts individuals on notice about such behavior. Selected US Attorneys’ offices appear to account for the majority of public corruption convictions. This study examines the public corruption conviction rate for all 94 US Attorneys’ offices in the US. Using 52 interviews with community stakeholders, former public officials, former prosecutors, and investigators, the nature of corrupt environments is examined to find aspects of a jurisdiction that encourage or inhibit corrupt behaviors. According to interviews, local history and culture, leadership and contagion, and watchdog/oversight activity impact the culture of corruption. Leadership is a double-edged sword. Leadership can both encourage corruption and curb it. Prosecutions may serve a purpose to hold corrupt officials accountable; it does not stem the tide of corrupt cultures.

根据民意调查，公共腐败在过去几十年中似乎无处不在并且不断增加。公职人员的审判和定罪通常会受到媒体的广泛关注。预计高调的定罪将减少一个地区的腐败，因为它会让个人注意到这种行为。选定的美国检察官办公室似乎占公共腐败定罪的大部分。本研究调查了美国所有 94 个美国检察官办公室的公共腐败定罪率。通过对社区利益相关者、前公职人员、前检察官和调查人员的 52 次采访，检查腐败环境的性质，以发现管辖范围内鼓励或抑制腐败行为的方面。根据采访、当地历史文化、领导力和传染性，和监督/监督活动影响腐败文化。领导力是一把双刃剑。领导既可以鼓励腐败，也可以遏制腐败。起诉可能是为了追究腐败官员的责任；它并不能阻止腐败文化的潮流。