CLAY COUNTY, Fla. — Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook and the Clay County Clerk of Court Tara Green announced the creation of a new multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional Guardianship task force to help better protect our most vulnerable citizens.
“When guardianships are done legally and with compassion, which is the situation in most cases, these vulnerable adults and children are properly cared for,” said Green. “But when a guardianship is mismanaged or worse, conducted in an illegal or even criminal manner, the results can be devastating.”
The new Guardianship task force will consist of several law enforcement agencies and jurisdictions. It will work to protect our community’s most vulnerable individuals, such as children who lost their parents or adults who are unable to make decisions on their healthcare or financial affairs.
Green says legal Guardians can be family members, court appointed professionals, or members of the public approved by the state.
She says most of the guardians they work with act appropriately, but they have seen some bad actors.
“Clerk guardianship auditors uncovered a case last year involving an individual who inherited a large amount of money that was depleted by her guardian. Hundreds and thousands of dollars gone,” said Green.
Sheriff Michelle Cook says this multi-agency task force will prevent cases of exploitation by bad actors from falling through the cracks.
“What this task force does is it puts everybody on the same page,” said Sheriff Cook. “From the origination of the complaint all the way to the outcome of the investigation, we’re all on the page.”
If you suspect that someone is being exploited by their guardian, you’re asked to call law enforcement immediately.
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