Mississippi Senate offers proposals designed to curb crime

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – You need to really feel secure the place you reside. The folks you’ve elected to serve on the State Capitol at the moment are providing up options they suppose will equal safer communities.

”I take into consideration residing on this space and being afraid of being carjacked on a regular basis and simply the notice,” mentioned Jackson resident Heidi Barnett. “You realize, we now have to reside on excessive alert on a regular basis.”

That’s a sentiment not misplaced on Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann and senators.

“We understand this has turn out to be an epidemic in our state and it’s time to have it addressed,” mentioned Hosemann.

Altering sentencing tips is a step they’re hoping will curb crimes like carjacking.

“It’s merely not truthful for somebody in a single space to get a 5 years sentence for that after which get it diminished to nothing suspended utterly,” famous Senate Judiciary B Chairman Sen. Joey Fillingane. “In different areas of our state, persons are serving a tough time for that.”

“It’s additionally the idea of the Senate when these people commit these crimes that this is step one in direction of later crimes,” added Hosemann.

So, right here’s what they’re proposing… giving a minimal sentence of 5 years to carjackers and a 10-year minimal if it’s an armed carjacking. They’ll additionally up the penalties for possession of the stolen property, together with motor autos. Jimmy Stewart thinks it’s time.

“It’s an invasion on you when somebody steals your automotive,” mentioned Jimmy Stewart. “I’ve had my automotive stolen, so I do know what that appears like. And I simply suppose that if you’re daring sufficient to do this to somebody…sure, it is advisable face the implications of that.”

However not everybody thinks rising sentencing is the reply.

“Take a step again and put all that power into why these crimes are occurring, and assist the folks, assist the communities that want the assistance to forestall the crimes from occurring within the first place,” mentioned Barnett.

Nonetheless, lawmakers say it’s about security.

“Each particular person within the state of Mississippi desires and deserves a secure neighborhood, they’ve reached out to us and mentioned, please do one thing,” defined Senate Judiciary A Chairman Sen. Brice Wiggins.

Listed here are extra particulars from the Lt. Governor’s workplace relating to the crime-related payments he’s supporting.

Senator Joey Fillingane authored S.B. 2101 that may create new minimal sentences for the crimes of fleeing legislation enforcement leading to bodily hurt (10 years); fleeing legislation enforcement leading to demise (20 years); carjacking (5 years); and armed carjacking (10 years).

Resisting arrest the place an officer is subjected to severe bodily hurt would even be a felony, with imprisonment within the Mississippi Division of Corrections (MDOC) custody for as much as two years beneath the laws.

S.B. 2099 would punish motorized vehicle theft as a felony, with a high-quality of $10,000, or imprisonment in MDOC custody for no less than 5 years and a most of 20 years, or each. A second offense would lead to a high-quality of $20,000, or a minimal of 10 years and a most of 40 years, or each.

The crime of receiving stolen property would come with a stolen motorized vehicle beneath S.B. 2100 which might obtain a minimal sentence of 5 years imprisonment and a most of 20 years or a high-quality of as much as $10,000, or each.

Different laws is geared toward addressing public corruption.

The statute of limitations would improve with S.B. 2122 from three to 5 years for bribery of a public official, matching federal limitations.

Senator England authored S.B. 2420 making a registry of offenders who commit the crime of embezzlement or misappropriation of public funds.

Offenders would keep on the record for 5 years after conviction or the date of launch from incarceration.

The invoice would prohibit governmental entities from hiring somebody on the record to a place in accounting or which in any other case oversees taxpayer funds.

Need extra WLBT information in your inbox? Click on right here to subscribe to our e-newsletter.

Copyright 2023 WLBT. All rights reserved.