JACKSON – Former Mississippi Department of Corrections Commissioner Pelicia Hall has received a civil demand to repay more than $142,000 after the State Auditor’s Office said she improperly received compensation she was not eligible for.
State Auditor Shad White announced Wednesday that Hall caused a principal loss of $142,532.73.
According to the auditor’s office, Hall initiated and received six compensatory time buyouts between August 2017 and February 2020 totaling $115,116.
Investigators said Hall was paid for 1,810 hours of comp time even though she was not eligible to receive a cash payout for those hours.
The auditor’s office cited Section 96 of the Mississippi Constitution, which prohibits extra compensation above an approved salary or hourly rate when there is no official policy allowing it.
“It’s vitally important that government officials know where they can and cannot spend taxpayer dollars,” White said. “I’m grateful for our investigators’ abilities and patience to get these tax dollars back where they belong.”
The civil demand seeks repayment of the principal loss along with applicable investigative costs and interest.
Suspected fraud can be reported to the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor at osa.ms.gov or by calling 1-800-321-1275 during normal business hours.
