Former House Speaker Thomas Finneran refused to testify in an independent investigation into alleged corruption within the state Probation Department, according to an independent report released Thursday. The report, ordered by the state's highest court, concludes the hiring and promotions process is filled with "systemic abuse and corruption."

The report notes Finneran invoked his Fifth Amendment and Article 12 rights, and refused to cooperate with investigators. The report says he and state Rep. Thomas Petrolati (D-Ludlow) were "two key legislators involved in budgeting for Probation and who sponsored candidates for hiring and promotion."

While in office as a Democratic state representative, Finneran represented parts of Dorchester and Mattapan. Finneran, a Mattapan resident, is a lobbyist and a radio show host on WRKO.

The Boston Globe, whose Spotlight Team report sparked the independent investigation, noted that the Legislature took hiring power away from judges and gave it to Probation Commissioner John O'Brien of Dorchester in 2001 with Finneran's backing.

According to the report, "the hiring and promotion process within the Probation Department during Commissioner O’Brien's tenure, and particularly since the Commissioner was granted statutory authority with respect to hiring and promotion in 2001, has not been intended to select the most qualified individual” for each position “solely on the basis of merit.”Instead, hiring and promotion have been thoroughly compromised by a systemic rigging of the interview and selection process in favor of candidates who have political or other
personal connections."

O'Brien also refused to cooperate with the investigation.

Gov. Deval Patrick has referred to the Probation Department as a "rogue agency."

The full report is available here.