Compliance programs typically refer to formalized institutional procedures within corporations and organizations to detect, prevent and respond to indvidual and widespread instances of regulatory violations. In response to many corporate scandals evidencing rampant unethical business practices, many nations, including the United States, began passing strict regulatory frameworks aimed at curbing these abuses. Notable pieces of legislation in this area include the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX), and the U.K. Bribery Act, to name a few. The foregoing statutes and the severe penalties often associated with them form the basis of many modern institutional compliance programs.
less -