Mississippi Auditor Demands $7.4M from Private Prison Firm for Staffing Failures
Mississippi State Auditor Shad White has demanded that Management & Training Corporation (MTC), a Utah-based private prison operator, pay $7.4 million to the state. The demand stems from MTC's failure to maintain sufficient staffing levels at two Mississippi facilities, violating safety contracts between January 2017 and May 2020. White described this as one of the largest civil demands in his office's history and has referred the matter to the Attorney General for legal enforcement. In response, MTC claimed it had previously offered a $4.5 million settlement, which White’s office denied receiving, stating the offer came after deadlines and would not prevent litigation. This dispute follows a 2021 incident where MTC repaid over $5 million for similar staffing shortages. White emphasized that taxpayers should not subsidize corporate contractual failures, regardless of political donations. MTC defended its actions as good-faith efforts to address industry-wide staffing challenges, criticizing the auditor's demands as unjustifiable. The conflict highlights ongoing tensions regarding accountability and oversight in privately managed correctional facilities within the United States.
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Mississippi Auditor Demands $7.4M from Private Prison Firm for Staffing Failures
Mississippi State Auditor Shad White has demanded that Management & Training Corporation (MTC), a Utah-based private prison operator, pay $7.4 million to the state. The demand stems from MTC's failure to maintain sufficient staffing levels at two Mississippi facilities, violating safety contracts between January 2017 and May 2020. White described this as one of the largest civil demands in his office's history and has referred the matter to the Attorney General for legal enforcement. In response, MTC claimed it had previously offered a $4.5 million settlement, which White’s office denied receiving, stating the offer came after deadlines and would not prevent litigation. This dispute follows a 2021 incident where MTC repaid over $5 million for similar staffing shortages. White emphasized that taxpayers should not subsidize corporate contractual failures, regardless of political donations. MTC defended its actions as good-faith efforts to address industry-wide staffing challenges, criticizing the auditor's demands as unjustifiable. The conflict highlights ongoing tensions regarding accountability and oversight in privately managed correctional facilities within the United States.
AP News