ST. LOUIS – A new audit uncovers patterns of mismanagement and neglect within the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office during Kim Gardner’s tenure.
Gardner served as the St. Louis Circuit Attorney from January 2017 to May 2023, stepping down as the city’s chief prosecutor after several legal battles and calls to resign. Throughout her tenure, she faced frequent criticism from state leaders, who pointed to low rates of convictions for violent crimes and high office turnover.
Some findings from the audit include:
A significant decline in the number of cases filed annually from 4,666 cases per year prior to Gardner to 2,529 during her administration.
A notable increase in case refusal rates, with around 56% of referred cases being refused under Gardner.
Delays in processing cases. On average, it took around 463 days to dispose of cases, exceeding the prior administration’s 293 days.
Gardner failed to dedicate her full-time attention to the Circuit Attorney’s Office, spending time on personal coursework and missing crucial court appearances.
Staff turnover rate of roughly 37% from the start to the end of her tenure.
Inaccurate bank account reconciliations and unaccounted for funds in restitution and bad checks accounts.
Lack of proper documentation in place
The audit also revealed that Gardner hindered the audit process by delaying responses, limiting access to records, and restricting interviews.
The final ausit rating for the Circuit Attorney’s Office was “poor,” the lowest possible rating.
The audit cited suggestions for future administrations to improve case processing times, enhance staff training and retention, and ensure greater accountability in handling office expenditures.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.