NCJ Number
181136
Date Published
1999
Length
35 pages
Annotation
The 1997-1998 annual report of the New Brunswick, Canada, Office of the Ombudsman reviews the authority and functions of the office related to complaint investigation.
Abstract
The Office of the Ombudsman has jurisdiction to investigate complaints of an administrative nature with respect to government departments, municipalities, school districts, hospital corporations, Crown agencies, and other agencies responsible to the province of New Brunswick. Depending on the nature of a complaint, it is sometimes possible to resolve the complaint informally. If an investigation indicates an administrative flaw has occurred and the matter cannot be resolved informally, the Ombudsman can make a recommendation to the administrative head of the authority concerned. Statutory responsibilities of the Ombudsman are outlined in the Ombudsman Act, the Civil Service Act, the Right to Information Act, the Archives Act, and the Personal Privacy Code. In 1997-1998, the Ombudsman received 3,745 complaints, inquiries, and requests for information; 1,783 were complaints within jurisdiction, 1,093 were inquiries and requests for information, and 869 were complaints not within jurisdiction. The annual report outlines goals of the Office of the Ombudsman and provides information on standards of service, specific types of complaints, complaints from inmates in correctional facilities, appeals, and referrals. Operational statistics for the Office of the Ombudsman are also tabulated. Tables and figures