|
|
|
FAQ's
( Frequently Asked Questions )
- What is an ombudsman?
(ahm’ bedz’ man) - a public official appointed to investigate citizens’ complaints against government agencies or officials that may be infringing on the rights of individuals. - WEBSTER’S NEW WORLD DICTIONARY
An Ombudsman, (a Scandinavian word pronounced as: ahm’ bedz’ man), is an independent, impartial, source of assistance in the resolution of problems. Webster’s Dictionary defines ombudsman as a representative of the people with government.
- What is the history of the Ombudsman concept?
It is generally agreed that the “classical” Ombudsman (see below) originated in Sweden in the 18th Century, though a similar kind of official post existed in Turkey at about the same time. Swedish King Charles XII, who is credited with creating the Swedish Ombudsman, spent several years in Turkey beginning in 1709. It has been speculated that he was influenced by the Turkish model. Finland created an Ombudsman in 1911, Denmark followed suit in 1953, and many countries and several North American states created Ombudsman offices in the 1960’s and 1970’s. All but one of the Canadian provinces and five states (Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Iowa, and Nebraska) now have Ombudsman offices, as do numerous counties and municipalities, and about 200 U.S. colleges and universities. Many corporations and professional organizations have Ombudsman offices as well.
- Is the term “Ombudsman” gender-specific?
When the term was first used, “man” in Swedish meant both “man” and “one” (as in “One must mind one’s p’s and q’s). Many Ombudsman offices in North America favor use of the traditional term, which is used internationally, but others have changed it to “Ombudsperson” or else shortened it to “Ombuds.”
- What is the purpose of an ombudsman?
The Ombudsman Association Handbook states, “The mission of the Ombudsman is to provide a confidential, neutral, and informal process which facilitates a fair and equitable resolution.”
- Are all Ombudsman offices the same?
No. There are two broad categories of Ombudsman: the “classical” Ombudsman and the “organizational” Ombudsman.
Classical Ombudsman offices are typically created by legislation (statute or ordinance) and generally have broad powers to investigate and report findings about complaints brought to their attention by members of the public. Classical Ombudsman offices do fact-finding aimed at evaluating complaints about government systems and attempt to find remedies for problems uncovered in the course of an investigation.
Organizational Ombudsman offices are typically created by an executive head (Corporation President or CEO, Chancellor, etc.) and generally work informally to help resolve problems within an organization. Organizational Ombudsman offices typically do not issue investigative reports or assign blame, but focus instead on constructive recommendations for change.
While these generalizations are broadly true, it must be said that an Ombudsman’s mandate varies from country to country, from state to state, from municipality to municipality, and from organization to organization. The UCSC Ombudsman’s Office is an organizational Ombudsman office.
- What is the function of the Los Angeles County Department of Ombudsman?
The Ombuds department assists individuals with complaints involving the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department or the Office of Public Safety personnel.
- Who can use the Ombudsman’s services?
Anyone who has an issue or complaint involving personnel (civilian and sworn) of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department or the Office of Public Safety.
- What are the fees for the services of the Ombudsman?
There is no charge for services provided by the Department of Ombudsman.
- Where can I learn more about different kinds of Ombudsman offices?
For links to information about a wide variety of Ombudsman offices in North America and around the world, go to the Other Ombuds page of this web site.
|
|