A Review of Guardian ad Litem Activity at the Bristol Division of the Juvenile Court Department

This is a state performance audit of guardian ad litem activity and expenses at the Bristol Division of the Juvenile Court Department.

“I am pleased to provide this performance audit of activities and expenses related to guardians ad litem in the Bristol Division of the Juvenile Court Department.”

Auditors checked whether the court had procedures for picking guardians ad litem, monitoring their work, and reviewing their bills.

“The audit was undertaken to review whether BJC had procedures in place regarding the selection, monitoring, and billings of GALs.”

These cases can involve children whose parents cannot or will not help them, so the court may appoint someone to protect the child’s interests.

“In many of these cases, the child’s parents are not able or willing to assist the child, and/or the custody of the child has been transferred to the state’s Department of Children and Families.”

If you live in Bristol County, this report says the local juvenile court had adequate safeguards around people appointed to represent children’s interests in certain cases.

“The Bristol Division of the Juvenile Court Department (BJC) presides over areas such as delinquency, youthful offenders, care and protection, and children requiring assistance in its territorial jurisdiction of Bristol County.”

The auditors answered yes to both main questions: appointed guardians had appropriate qualifications and the court had a process for reports and billing review.

“Does the court have a process in place to ensure that GALs submit reports to the court when required and that their billings are adequately documented, mathematically correct, and approved for payment by appropriate court personnel?”

After the audit period, the Juvenile Court’s administrative office issued statewide practice rules for guardian ad litem appointments, including application and qualification requirements.

“This document, effective July 6, 2015, sets forth the categories, descriptions, qualifications, and application process for the appointment of GALs in the Juvenile Court Department.”

During the audit period, guardian ad litem work was not a tiny issue: 281 cases required one, and the court paid 31 guardians a total of $116,116.

“Approximately 281 of these cases required the assignment of a GAL.”

A guardian ad litem is a person appointed by the court to protect a minor’s interests in some cases.

“In some cases, the court approves a motion to appoint a guardian ad litem (GAL) to protect the interests of a minor.”