Bribery of a Public Official — "Public Official" Defined is the act of offering money, goods, services, or other benefits to a public official in order to influence their decision-making or to gain an advantage. It is illegal and a form of corruption that can result in criminal charges, fines, and even imprisonment. There are two main types of bribery of public officials: active bribery and passive bribery. Active bribery involves offering or giving something of value in order to influence a public official’s decision, while passive bribery occurs when the public official requests or accepts something of value in exchange for a decision or action. Both types of bribery are punishable by law.