A study by the Mississippi Legislative PEER Committee reports one member of the state parole board was reimbursed more than $20,000 in 2020, for commuting to Jackson. James Barber is with PEER. He says state regulations do not allow employees who live out of town to be reimbursed for traveling to their office. Barber adds the five member parole board isn't working full-time as required. He says some weren't at hearings or left early and came back late.
"Early into this project we were told point blank that they do not work on Fridays. And we would be in and out of their office and they would not be present," said Barber.
Parole Board Chairman Steven Pickett disputes that claim saying they do work full-time. He says hearings often spillover into the lunch hour and they often work until 6:30 in the evening. Also, Pickett says it's been a practice to reimburse those who live 60 miles or more out of town for 31 years. But last December, the state auditor noted the process doesn't comply with regulations.
"There are no missing funds or any funds that have been embezzled by anyone. The travel reimbursements all have receipts and members were reimbursed throughout the state for many years," said Pickett.
The report also found 47 percent of offenders didn't have timely parole hearings in 2019. Steven Pickett says they clear their docket every month, but some cases are held because all the paperwork isn't available.
