The Okaloosa County Clerk of Circuit Court Department of Inspector General was established by charter of the Okaloosa County Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller in January 2015. The mission of the Department of Inspector General is to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of government operations by providing independent and objective investigative and audit services to the citizens of Okaloosa County.
The Department of Inspector General is led by an Inspector General appointed by the Clerk. The Department’s authority includes any operation under the direction of the Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller or the Board of County Commissioners departments under the control of the County Administrator. It also includes other functions for which the BCC provides financial support.
The Department’s goal is to preserve public trust in government. The Department strives to achieve this goal by maintaining the highest standards of professionalism. The Department of Inspector General is accredited by the Commission for Law Enforcement Accreditation. Accreditation is the certification by an independent reviewing authority that an agency has met specific requirements and prescribed standards. Accredited agencies are required to be reassessed every three years. The Department of Inspector General was initially accredited in February 2017 and re-accredited in both February 2020 and February 2023.
The International Professional Practices Framework of the Institute of Internal Auditors requires an audit activity to receive an external assessment (peer review) at least every five years. The Department of Inspector General’s audit services function was last peer reviewed in April 2024.
Inspector General Initiatives
Investigative and Audit Services
The Department of Inspector General is committed to the prevention and detection of misuse of county resources as well as ensuring an effective system of internal controls. The Department strives to provide value added investigations and audits to help improve the efficiency and effectiveness of government operations.
Guardianship
When an individual is determined to be incapacitated, a Guardianship is often created. Okaloosa County currently has over 400 Guardianship cases. The Clerk of Courts’ responsibility to audit Guardianship case filings can be found in Chapter 744, Florida Statutes.