Is the OIG a law-enforcement agency?
A. The OIG is usually referred to as a quasi law-enforcement agency. We do not have power of arrest. Also, we do not provide Miranda Warnings prior to interviews, because such warnings are only required for custodial interrogations, of the kind conducted by police officers, for example. However, our investigative records and documents are protected in the same manner as the records of law-enforcement agencies, in order to protect the integrity of our investigations. In addition, any unlawful or criminal conduct discovered during the course of an investigation is referred to the appropriate law-enforcement entity or prosecutors office. In some cases, depending on the particular circumstances, this will be a referral only. In other cases, the referral, when accepted, turns into a joint criminal investigation with one or more agencies.
