In 2004 Corporate Crime Reporter asserted that Mississippi was the most crooked state in America. By comparing the number of federal corruption convictions over the past decade and the 2002 population of the state, the conclusion was inescapable. Too many officials were robbing the public they had sworn to serve and protect.

Hands in the Till: Embezzlement of Public Monies in Mississippi establishes the scope of a major crisis in a poor state where needs are many and funds are scarce. The book highlights the tireless work of the Office of the State Auditor in investigating the theft of public money and bringing criminals to justice.

This book reports on thirty-seven cases that demonstrate how and why embezzlement occurs, how it is discovered and investigated, and how the state's justice system deals with perpetrators. The greedy schemes can be as outrageous as they are disheartening. Case histories narrated here involve a variety of public servants and others including chancery clerks, circuit clerks, justice court clerks, city clerks, sheriffs, tax collectors, school and college administrators, and employees of organizations that receive public money.

James R. Crockett is professor emeritus of accountancy and information systems at the University of Southern Mississippi.