Articles Posted in MS Criminal Laws

Some of the most long-lasting and severe consequences of criminal activity remain long after you have completed your sentence. The negative stigma of a criminal record can prove to be a considerable burden, and it may also affect your ability to get a job. Some might argue that this is counter-productive, since criminals who cannot get a job are more likely to return to a life of crime in order to support themselves financially. But can an employer really reject you based on your criminal history in Mississippi?

If you have questions about how your criminal record might affect your life going forward, get in touch with a criminal defense attorney in Mississippi. Our legal professionals can explain exactly what kind of barriers you may face in your future, whether you are concerned about employment, certain rights being taken away, or simply your reputation. We can also help you explore options for dealing with your criminal record. In some cases you can have your criminal record expunged.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)

If you have been convicted of a certain crime in Mississippi, you may have lost some of your rights. It can be difficult to live a normal life with these issues, and you may be wondering how you can clean up your criminal record and regain some of these important freedoms once again. One of your options is a pardon, and this is perhaps one of the best-known options for convicted criminals who want to pursue some degree of “forgiveness.” Is a pardon a realistic goal for you? How does a pardon work, and how can you get one?

These are all questions that are probably best left answered by a qualified, experienced criminal defense attorney. If you are serious about pursuing a pardon, it makes sense to consult with one of these legal professionals. During your initial consultation, your attorney can assess your unique situation and determine whether you can realistically pursue a pardon. In addition, they might be able to suggest other options that will restore some of your rights and clean up your criminal record.

Why Do I Need a Pardon?

Losing Your Rights After a Criminal Conviction in Mississippi

 
When most people think about criminal penalties, they only consider things like fines, jail time, and perhaps community service. The truth is that you may face a wide range of additional consequences after your conviction, and these consequences have the potential to alter your life considerably. Some convicted criminals lose their rights in the Magnolia State, no longer having the freedom to vote, possess firearms, hold office, and much more. If you have been convicted of a crime in Mississippi, it is important to understand the full extent of the consequences you face.

Even if your criminal trial is long past, a criminal defense attorney in Mississippi can help you fight to restore some of these rights. A legal professional can try to obtain a pardon on your behalf. This may restore many of the rights that have been taken away from you. If you are interested in getting back some of these important American and democratic freedoms, you should consult with a qualified attorney at your earliest convenience.

If you have been convicted of a crime in Mississippi, you might be wondering whether you can have it removed from your record. As it turns out, there is a way to do this, and it is called “expungement.” While expungement removes any mention of a past conviction from your criminal record, it is not available to just anyone. If you are interested in expungement, you need to know the exact circumstances in which the state of Mississippi allows this. So when can you get an expungement?

If you need to clean up your criminal record, the first thing you should do is get in touch with a qualified criminal defense attorney in Mississippi. During a consultation, we can assess your unique situation and determine whether expungement is possible.

Why Get an Expungement?

Human trafficking is a serious issue in the modern era, and Mississippi has taken a very tough stance against this crime. The state has its own human trafficking laws, and it has been praised by various human rights activists for its no-nonsense approach. It might seem unthinkable that slavery still exists in a first-world nation like the United States, but in many ways, we have not really progressed since the Roman times, when slavery was common. Perhaps some things never change.

If you have been accused of human trafficking, it is important that you get in touch with a qualified, experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. If this is all a misunderstanding, it is important that you clear your name. With the right legal representation, you can gather conclusive evidence and show that the accusations laid against you are false.

Human Trafficking is a Genuine Issue in Mississippi

There are a number of laws against helping people escape from the custody of law enforcement officials. These laws fall under the general category of “escape of prisoners.” One of these laws is “aiding escapes from officers.” You are guilty of this crime if you help someone who is attempting to escape from the custody of a sheriff, marshal, constable, or any other law enforcement officer. If you are convicted, you face a jail sentence of one year, a fine of $500, or both.

However, a much more serious offense is “aiding escape of felons generally,” or “rescuing prisoners from custody.” You are guilty of this crime if you assist in the escape of any prisoner who is lawfully detained in a penitentiary, jail, or any “place of confinement.” In order to be convicted of this crime, the prisoner must be detained as the result of a felony charge. You can also face this charge if you “forcibly rescue” a prisoner, regardless of whether the prisoner is a felon. The penalty for this crime is a maximum sentence of 10 years in the penitentiary. 

Prison breakouts might sound unlikely in the modern era, but they are relatively common in Mississippi. Over the years, many inmates have successfully escaped from incarceration, and many have been helped by people on the outside. Such was the case in July of 2020 when a man successfully escaped the Mississippi State Penitentiary and then fled the state. This individual had help from a 28-year-old woman, who picked the inmate up and helped him cross state lines into Tennessee. The man was then recaptured in Nashville after a three-day manhunt. 

Speaking about the fact that this inmate had been helped in his escape, Department of Corrections Commissioner Burt Cain stated: “Where we can, people will be charged to the fullest extent of the law because we do not tolerate people assisting fugitives.”