Domestic violence is a serious offense in Mississippi. If you are accused of this crime, it is important to understand your rights. More importantly, it is crucial that you understand exactly how these alleged crimes are handled in the state of Mississippi. There are many types of crimes that may be classified as domestic violence, and penalties may vary as a result. An obvious first step is to book a consultation with a criminal defense attorney and determine how best to proceed based on your unique situation.
While there are many types of family violence in Mississippi, they all involve crimes committed against members of your household or your family. This might include:
- Your current spouse
- Your former spouse
- Your child
- The child of your current or former spouse
- Your parent
- Your grandparent
- Your grandchild
- A current or former significant other
- The parent of your child
Essentially, family violence may be committed against a wide range of individuals. If you are wondering whether your crime might constitute family violence, consider getting in touch with an attorney for more accurate advice.
Simple Domestic Violence
As the phrase suggests, simple domestic violence is a less serious crime compared to other forms of family violence in Mississippi. However, it is still a serious offense. You can be charged with simple domestic violence if you attempt to cause or cause serious bodily injury to a member of your household. You can also be charged with this offense if you “negligently” cause bodily injury to a member of your household with a deadly weapon. This might include the accidental discharge of the weapon.
Finally, you may be charged with simple domestic violence if you “attempt by physical menace” to put another person in fear of imminent serious bodily harm. In other words, this involves some kind of threat.
Aggravated Domestic Violence
Aggravated domestic violence is obviously the more serious of these two charges. You can be charged with aggravated domestic violence if you attempt to cause or cause a serious bodily injury to a member of your household with “extreme indifference to the value of human life.” Essentially, this means that the act occurs in an extremely reckless or careless manner. You may also be charged with this offense if you use a deadly weapon or you attempt to strangle someone. The penalties for this crime are more serious, and you may face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
Violent Child Abuse
If your alleged acts of violence are targeted toward children, you face more serious penalties. There are many crimes that fall into the general category of child abuse, including:
- Child abuse
- Child neglect
- Child endangerment
Perhaps most notably, you can face consequences if you allow a child to be abused or harmed under your watch. For example, you may be aware that a member of your household is harming a child in your family. If you do not report this crime, you could face legal consequences – such as child neglect or child endangerment.
The most serious child abuse crimes involve acts of extreme violence and torture, including burning, choking, poisoning, starving, and so on. You will almost certainly face felony charges if you are accused of causing permanent disfigurement to a child through scarring, blinding, burning, maiming, and so on. Crimes such as these often involve penalties of at least five years in prison, and it is possible to face a life sentence for some of the more serious child abuse offenses in Mississippi.
Psychological or Verbal Abuse
If you have been accused of psychological or verbal abuse against a member of your household, your penalties depend on the nature of your alleged crimes. Simply insulting or degrading your spouse or family member is not illegal in Mississippi. However, you may face consequences for overt verbal threats of physical violence against family members.
Where Can I Find an Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney in Mississippi?
If you have been searching for a qualified criminal defense attorney in Mississippi, look no further than Vic Carmody Jr., P.A. Over the years, we have helped numerous defendants pursue positive results when facing domestic violence charges and other violent offenses. If you have been accused of this crime, do not hesitate to get in touch and discuss your legal options.