General jurisdiction offices, usually in local or state government offices receive complaints about the administrative acts of all government agencies in their locale.

Specialty ombudsman offices receive complaints about a specific agency or from a specific constituency. Agencies may include a department of corrections, child welfare, or public safety. Specialty offices may work with identified populations such as children, families, crime victims, nursing home residents, workers' compensation recipients, or inmates, or may field complaints related to areas such as public education, housing, small business, managed care, or government contract agencies.