MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Judiciary B

By: Representative McCoy

AN ACT TO PROHIBIT PROVIDING FALSE INFORMATION TO LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL IN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS; TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS THEREOF; TO AMEND SECTION 97-9-55, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Whoever, in any matter within the jurisdiction of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, an agency of the State of Mississippi, knowingly and willfully falsifies, conceals or covers up by any trick, scheme, or device a material fact, or makes any false, fictitious or fraudulent statements or representations, or makes or uses any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any false, fictitious or fraudulent statement or entry to any law enforcement individual duly authorized by a city, county or agency of the State of Mississippi to conduct or engage in the investigation of violations of the Uniform Controlled Substances Law, shall, upon conviction, be punished by imprisonment not less than one (1) month in the county jail nor more than two (2) years in the State Penitentiary or by a fine not exceeding Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or both such fine and imprisonment.

SECTION 2. Section 97-9-55, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

97-9-55. (1) If any person or persons by bribery, threats, force or abuse, or in any other manner willfully endeavors to obstruct, delay or prevent the communication of information relating to a violation of any criminal statute by any person to a criminal investigator or shall attempt to intimidate or otherwise influence a judge, justice of the peace, juror, or one whose name has been drawn for jury service, witness, prosecuting or defense attorney or any other officer in the discharge of his duties, or by such bribery, force, abuse or reprisals or threats thereof after the performance of such duties, or to obstruct or impede the administration of justice in any court, he shall, upon conviction, be punished by imprisonment not less than one (1) month in the county jail nor more than two (2) years in the State Penitentiary or by a fine not exceeding Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or both such fine and imprisonment.

(2) If any person or persons, knowingly and willfully falsifies, conceals or covers up by any trick, scheme, or devise a material fact, or makes any false, fictitious or fraudulent statements or representations, or makes or uses any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any false, fictitious or fraudulent statement or entry to any criminal investigator who is conducting or engaging in the investigation of possible violations of criminal law shall, upon conviction, be punished not less than one (1) month in the county jail nor more than two (2) years in the State Penitentiary or by a fine not exceeding Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or both such fine and imprisonment.

(3) As used in this section, the term "criminal investigator" means any law enforcement individual duly authorized by a city, county or agency of the State of Mississippi to conduct or engage in investigations of or prosecutions for violations of the criminal laws of the State of Mississippi.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.