Justice Muse

This week, the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) announced the implementation of a Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy (the “VSD Policy”).  The DOJ declared that U.S. Attorney’s Offices throughout the nation will offer benefits to companies that voluntarily and timely disclose misconduct.  Effective immediately, the VSD Policy details the parameters and criteria for voluntary self-disclosure of misconduct.  Under the VSD Policy, a company is considered to have made a voluntary self-disclosure if it is aware of misconduct prior to being publicly reported and timely discloses all relevant facts to a U.S. Attorney’s Office.  A company that meets this criteria and remediates the criminal conduct will experience significant benefits including the U.S. Attorney’s Office not seeking a guilty plea or imposing a criminal penalty. 

Last Thursday, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco made remarks regarding corporate criminal enforcement.  Deputy Attorney General Monaco set forth five key priorities: (i) individual accountability; (ii) consideration of previous misconduct; (iii) self-disclosures by companies accused of misconduct; (iv) compliance monitors; and (v) compensation/incentive plans that encourage a healthy corporate culture and avoid risky behavior.  In my view, this is not a substantial departure from the Department’s current practice.  Deputy Attorney General Monaco’s articulation of these priorities, however, codifies practices that were already occurring in both Civil and Criminal matters.