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Senate revives child-neglect statute, gives prosecutors discretion to charge misdemeanor or felony
Summary
The Senate voted to restore a child‑neglect statute removed in 2024, adopting conference language that allows prosecutors to charge depriving a child of necessary supervision as either a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the facts; supporters cite cases of severe injury, critics raise concerns about vague standards.
The Mississippi Senate adopted a conference report restoring a child‑neglect offense that had been removed from the code in 2024, with new language giving prosecuting attorneys discretion to pursue either misdemeanor or felony charges depending on the severity of harm.
Senate conferees said prosecutors across the state had asked for a restoration of the statute so that cases where a child suffers serious bodily injury but does not die can be prosecuted. "This gives the prosecutor a choice, depending on the circumstances presented,…
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