Mississippi Felonies A minimum of one-year imprisonment normally classifies a felony
in Mississippi. Felonies are serious crimes and usually include rape,
murder, and burglary. They are more severe than misdemeanors and
infractions. All felony sentences will be served in state prisons when
sentences are for several years. Sentences of a year or less may be
served in a county jail facility. When felony punishments are for less
than a year, it is at the discretion of the determining judge.
There is no limitation statute for the felonies of arson, murder,
burglary, manslaughter, counterfeiting, robbery, rape, embezzlement,
larceny, and obtaining money under false property pretenses. Two-year
statutes exist for all other felony crimes. Extensions exist for the
sexual abuse of minors.
Felony Classification Mississippi does not classify its felonies according to the
level of seriousness of the crimes. Categories exist in the place of
classification. Harsher penalties exist for more serious crimes. The
Criminal Code of the State of Mississippi sets specific guidelines for
each felonious offense. Provisions provide specific information on each
felony and the penalties of the offense.
Mississippi Murder Murder, whether premeditated or not, is punishable by a
conviction of life in prison in a state penitentiary. This sentence is
decided by the court.
Capital Murder Capital murder is treated differently than murder as it is
defined as murder with the intent to kill. Those convicted of capital
murder will be sentence to one of three options: life imprisonment in a
state facility, death by execution, or life imprisonment in a state
penitentiary without the option of parole.
Burglary Burglary in the state of Mississippi is defined as the burgle of
an in habited dwelling during night hours with the usage of a deadly
weapon. The guilty conviction of this kind of crime is punishable by
imprisonment in a state institution for no less than three years and no
more than twenty-five years.
Drug Crimes The crimes classified as drug crimes vary in punishments and
depends on the amount of substance in possession, whether or not there
was trafficking, and whether or not there was sale. Penalties range and
can include imprisonment terms up to twenty-four years in a state
prison for a single offense. If multiple convictions happen at once,
prison terms will be added together. Such as a sentence of five years,
a sentence of ten years, and a sentence of seven years to equal a total
imprisonment of twenty-two years for three offenses. Charges for
marijuana possession are different and also depend on the amount in
possession.
Other Crimes Arson in the first degree is punishable by up to twenty years in
prison or as few as two years in prison. Imprisonment for child abuse
constitutes up to twenty years in a state penitentiary. A conviction of
robbery is punishable by up to fifteen years in prison. And a DUI
charges in the fourth degree is punishable as a felony rather than a
misdemeanor.
Felony Expungement Mississippi expungement is only possible under Mississippi Code
Section 99-15-26. This code states that a case must be dismissed or all
charges must have been dropped for any person to be eligible for
expungement.