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Date 6-27-06
Contact Shelia White 228.865.4573
Author Jason Sherwood
Gulfport—May
1 marked the end of a successful contractual relationship between
the University of Southern Mississippi’s Department of Administration
of Justice and the state Attorney General’s (AG) office. Since January
2005, the two had joined forces, sharing office space, equipment,
and resources in a mutually beneficial effort to promote law enforcement
on the coast.
“It was a synergistic relationship,” said Dr. Thomas Payne, associate
professor in the Administration of Justice department and director
of the efforts. “This was kind of a pilot project that was very
successful. We were able to assist the Attorney General with space
and quality training from the academic side, and they were able
to assist us with practical knowledge and experience for our students.”
The department had been supplying four offices on campus, equipped
with manpower and technology before Katrina hit. Students were able
to take part in a variety of internship opportunities and training
seminars, and the AG’s office staffed two criminal investigators
and other personnel on campus. The two had an array of law enforcement
projects on the planning table when the storm “decimated” the four
locations. In a natural transition, the partnership developed into
a fraud investigation unit.
As a former federal prosecutor still holding the record for the
largest fraud prosecution case in the southern United States (over
$40 million), Payne was a perfect fit for the needs of the AG in
the wake of the storm. Working out of Payne’s two story law office
building, the unit handled approximately 520 complaints of fraud,
accounting to more than $500,000 in losses, and they were able to
recover nearly half of that amount in restitution to victims. The
office referred close to 100 civil complaints and assisted in 25
arrests. Students also benefited, taking part in the various needs
and investigations. Payne says the partnership’s success shows that
“we can do this in the future.”
“This has been a unique relationship. I don’t know of any other
university that has done this. I think it sets us apart,” said Payne.
“I think that’s why the Department of Administration of Justice
at the university has been able over the years to produce quality
graduates. While we’re good at academia, we focus on the practical
as well. We combine the practical with the academic and turn out
the very best student.”
While Payne’s immediate research and academic duties are top priority,
he says he looks forward to new projects and developing similar
relationships in the future.
To find out more about the Department of Administration of Justice
at the University of Southern Mississippi, go to http://www.usm.edu/cj/index.html.
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