The Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller's Division of Inspector General earned its fourth reaccreditation by the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation in February 2023. Pictured are: Sheriff Billy Woods, Vice Chair of the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation; Roger Trca, Inspector General; Monica Alvarenga, Inspector General, Senior; and R. Stacy Lehman, Executive Director of the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation

Mission 

Established by charter of the Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller and formerly called the Audit Services Division, the mission of the Division of Inspector General (IG) is to provide independent, objective auditing and investigative services designed to add value, improve the Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller operations and preserve public trust. Led by an Inspector General appointed by the elected Clerk, the division strives to educate citizens and policy makers regarding the operation of government, while assisting in the administration of the Clerk's constitutional duties.

To provide for the independence of the Division, staff report to the Inspector General who reports functionally and administratively to the elected Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller. The Division has no direct responsibility or authority over any area subject to its audits and investigations, and is organizationally independent from departments within the Clerk’s office.

Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation 

In February 2011, our IG office became the second Clerk's office in the state of Florida to be awarded status as an Accredited Office of Inspector General by the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA). The CFA requires re-accreditation every three years.

After the mandatory onsite assessments were performed, the CFA approved our re-accreditation in February 2014, 2017 and 2020. Most recently, the CFA once again provided official notification of our fourth successful reaccreditation in February 2023. Our office was commended for its continued diligence, professionalism, and commitment in maintaining this highest recognition among Florida’s Inspector General community.

Being an accredited agency signifies that our work product meets or exceeds the highest professional investigative standards promulgated for Offices of Inspector General. The benefits of accreditation include improved agency transparency, enhanced consistency and quality of investigations, well-defined procedures, improved accountability, and statewide recognition that our office has achieved its accreditation status.

Having an IG accredited team within the Clerk’s office supporting the Clerk’s constitutional duties provides another layer of protection for the public—ensuring your tax dollars are protected.

Statewide Investigation Alliance

In 2016, the Florida legislature expanded the responsibility and authority of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, Office of Professional and Public Guardians (OPPG). The legislation requires OPPG to investigate complaints about the conduct of state-registered public and professional guardians. Our IG Office partnered with five other Inspector General Offices to form the Statewide Investigation Alliance (SIA) through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the OPPG to perform these investigations on their behalf as an agent. OPPG forwards the complaints to our IG Office designated in the MOU as the Administrative Coordinator. The complaints are assigned to an SIA member for completion of the investigations. OPPG is responsible for making a final determination of any disciplinary actions for the state registered professional guardians. 

The Division of Inspector General is comprised of two operational units, the Audit Services Unit and the Public Integrity Unit.

Division of Inspector General Annual Report 2023

Audit Services Unit

The Audit Services Unit conducts financial, operational, and compliance audits to help improve the effectiveness of governance, risk management and control processes within government.

• Audits Of The Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller's Office
• Audit Services Reports On Other Entities

Public Integrity Unit

The Public Integrity Unit conducts investigations of suspected fraud, waste, abuse, or ethical misconduct initiated through the Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller’s Ethics Hotline or other sources.

Guardianship Integrity Assurance Hotline

When an individual is adjudicated to be legally incapacitated, a guardian can be court-appointed and a guardianship case proceeding can be created. Palm Beach County currently has approximately 2,800-3,200 guardianship cases. The Clerk of the Circuit Court has the statutory duty to audit, investigate, review, and monitor the guardianship and advise the court to its findings pursuant to Florida Guardianship Law, Chapter 744. The court has a duty of monitoring and oversight as well.

If you suspect a court-appointed guardian, attorney, or anyone else willing to prey upon an incapacitated person, report it to the Guardianship Integrity Assurance Hotline. Submissions are sent directly to the Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller's Division of Inspector General.

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