If offered a gratuity, what is the appropriate action?

• A. Decline and do not accept.
• B. Accept if it is small.
• C. Decline, and report the gratuity to a supervisor.
• D. Accept with prior approval.

Answer: (C)

Gifts and gratuities can create conflicts of interest and erode public trust in corrections work. The proper action when offered a gratuity is to decline it politely and report the incident to a supervisor. This keeps professional boundaries clear and lets the agency handle the situation according to policy, ensuring transparency and accountability. Accepting even a small gratuity can be interpreted as influence or favoritism, and while some policies might allow limited exceptions, the safest and most consistent practice is to decline and document the offer with supervision.