Press Release  Audit Leads to Improvements at Norfolk Sheriff’s Office

Boston — State Auditor Suzanne M. Bump today released an audit of the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office (NSO) Civil Process Division (CPD), which highlights needed improvements related to financial oversight, ensuring deputies are adequately compensated, contracting, and IT processes. The audit, which examined the period of January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2018, was requested by Norfolk Sheriff Jerome P. McDermott to guide the transition when he was appointed by Governor Charlie Baker in December 2018 to serve the remainder of former Sheriff Michael G. Bellotti’s term.

“New leadership provides a fresh opportunity to reflect on how business is done and identify opportunities for improvements. I commend Sheriff McDermott for requesting an independent review by my office, but more importantly for committing to take action on our audit’s recommendations,” Bump said of the audit. “The steps laid out in this audit will help improve accountability in the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office.”

Bump’s audit found the CPD did not always perform reconciliations of its monthly bank account statements within 30 days, and in some instances up to 960 days late, increasing the risk of losses, shortages, or theft of funds. It also found CPD did not retain copies of canceled checks for three years, as required. The audit also revealed NSO deputy sheriffs were not compensated by the CPD for delivering 10,678 attestation copies of legal documents, resulting in these deputies not receiving $15,483 in compensation. Further, the audit found the CPD received services from an outside consultant without a signed contract, which increases the risks of service expectations not being met. Finally, the audit calls on NSO to consolidate all of its information technology (IT) functions and operations, including those associated with the CPD, in its office IT department.

In its response, NSO stated it agreed with the audit’s findings and reported it has begun or will soon begin to take steps to implement the recommendations.

The audit also examined CPD’s collection of fees for the delivery of legal services and its non-payroll expenses and found no deficiencies in these areas.

The Norfolk Sheriff’s Office oversees Norfolk County, which includes 28 cities and towns. The Office’s CPD is responsible for the delivery of legal services and the enforcement of civil orders and judgments made by the court. As of December 31, 2018, the CPD employed nine full-time state employees and four deputy sheriffs. In fiscal year 2019, NSO received $31,247,971 in state appropriations. 

The full audit report is available here.

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