Legal Definitions - ombudsman

An ombudsman is a person who is appointed to investigate and report on complaints made by private citizens against the government or a non-governmental organization. They are independent and nonpartisan officers who supervise the administration and deal with specific complaints from the public against administrative injustice and maladministration.

For example, if a person has a complaint against a government agency, they can contact the ombudsman who will investigate the complaint and report on their findings. Similarly, if an employee has a complaint against their company, they can contact the ombudsman who will investigate the complaint and report on their findings.

The ombudsman serves as an alternative to the adversary system for resolving disputes, especially between citizens and government agencies. They have the power to investigate, criticize, and publicize, but not to reverse administrative action.