The Clay County Clerk of Court and Comptroller is committed to preventing fraud and maintaining an environment in which internal controls are established and improved. A crucial element of internal control is a mechanism for preventing and detecting fraud, waste and abuse of county resources.
The Clerk, through her Division of Inspector General, established several means for employees and citizens to report potential fraud, waste or abuse by employees, contractors, vendors, citizens, or other entities that have a business relationship with Clay County. All complaints received are reviewed by the Clerk’s Inspector General to determine if sufficient information exists to conduct a meaningful investigation.
The Florida Whistleblower Protection Act (Florida Statute 112.3187) protects those who report violations of law on the part of a public employer that create a substantial and specific danger to the public’s health, safety, or welfare. It prevents retaliatory action against any person who discloses information to an appropriate agency alleging improper use of governmental office, gross waste of fund, or any other abuse or gross neglect of duty on the part of an agency, public officer or employee.
What to Report
- Violations of federal, state or local laws, rules, or regulations
- Theft, waste or misuse of Clay County assets or resources
- Violations or circumvention of Clay County policies or State or Federal regulations
Fraud is defined by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners as any intentional or deliberate act to deprive another of property or money by guile, deception or other unfair means. Waste refers to the unintentional, thoughtless or careless expenditure, consumption, mismanagement, use or squandering of government resources to the detriment or potential detriment of the County or Clerk. Abuse refers to intentional, wrongful or improper use or destruction of government resources, or seriously improper practice that does not involve prosecutable fraud.
To assist in these efforts, we established several methods for individuals or employees to report potential fraud, waste or abuse.
