Mississippi auditor seeks $7.4 million from private prison operator for staffing violations

Mississippi State Auditor Shad White announced Monday that a private prison operator must pay $7.4 million for failing to maintain adequate staffing levels to ensure safety at its facilities. The demand targets Management & Training Corporation, which manages two prisons in Mississippi and numerous others nationwide, White said.

White said the civil demand is among the largest in his office’s history. He began investigating the company more than five years ago over staffing shortages at its Mississippi prisons. Last year, the company repaid more than $5 million after White’s office uncovered staffing violations.

Following White’s announcement, MTC issued a statement claiming it offered to settle for $4.5 million last Friday. However, White’s office said the company’s offer was never received. White’s spokesperson, Jacob Walters, told Mississippi Today that the offer would not halt litigation, adding that the office would seek enforcement from the attorney general’s office.

In a Monday press release, White emphasized that the state would pursue repayment regardless of the company’s out-of-state status or political donations. The demand includes fines and interest related to violations from January 2017 to May 2020, with $3.1 million from the original fine and nearly $2.8 million in interest, White said.

Management & Training Corporation disputed the allegations, stating it acted in good faith and paid over $5.9 million to address staffing issues. The company also attributed staffing challenges to COVID-19 disruptions. The Mississippi Attorney General’s office is reviewing the demand, and White said enforcement will proceed in court if the company does not pay voluntarily.

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