CLEVELAND – The Cuyahoga County Clerk of Courts office has made new benchmark achievements, including its first balanced bank account and improved practices to deter theft, such as additional cameras, higher standards for cash counting, and new safeguards for cash boxes in the office.

“I am proud of the progress we have made over the past year,” said Clerk of Courts Andrea Rocco. “I look forward to continuing to improve and strengthen the Clerk of Courts operations in the months ahead.”

Reforms were implemented after Rocco requested an internal audit to identify weaknesses in the Clerk of Courts office. The audit noted that the Clerk of Courts office had historically failed to close cases in a timely and accurate manner, including the processing of bond forfeitures, court costs, and deposits. Since then, new measures have guaranteed closed cases are reviewed and money is properly collected and returned.

Clerk of Courts officials have also begun working to address a large backlog of inactive cases that had not been properly closed. The office also introduced a revised cash control policy and a review of best practices to ensure stronger internal controls around voiding receipts.

Today’s announcement is the latest in a series of improvements to the Clerk of Courts office. Earlier this year, the County implemented new procedures for constituents to claim $7 million in unapplied funds that had remained on deposit with the Clerk of Courts for decades. Moving forward, the Clerk of Courts will post a list of unapplied funds on deposit for public review in January of each year. After five years, funds that remain unclaimed will be deposited in the County’s General Fund.