Senate Bill 2703

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 47-5-193 AND 47-5-195, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE PENALTY FOR POSSESSION OF CELL PHONES OR ANY OTHER OF ITS COMPONENTS OR ACCESSORIES BY OFFENDERS IN COUNTY JAILS AND PRISONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 47-5-193, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

47-5-193. (1) It is unlawful for any officer or employee of the department, of any county sheriff's department, of any private correctional facility in this state in which offenders are confined, of any municipal or other correctional facility in this state, or for any other person or offender to possess, furnish, attempt to furnish, or assist in furnishing to any offender confined in this state any weapon, deadly weapon, unauthorized electronic device, or contraband item * * *. It is unlawful for any person or offender to take, attempt to take, or assist in taking any weapon, deadly weapon, unauthorized electronic device, or contraband item * * * on property within the state belonging to the department, a county, a municipality, or other entity that is occupied or used by offenders, except as authorized by law.

(2) It is unlawful for any officer or employee of the department, of any county sheriff's department, of any private correctional facility in this state in which offenders are confined, of any municipal or other correctional facility in this state, or for any other person or offender to possess, furnish, attempt to furnish, or assist in furnishing to any offender confined in this state any cell phone or any of its components or accessories to include, but not limited to, Subscriber Information Module (SIM) cards or chargers. It is unlawful for any person or offender to take, attempt to take, or assist in taking any cell phone or any of its components or accessories to include, but not limited to, Subscriber Information Module (SIM) cards or chargers on property within the state belonging to the department, a county, a municipality, or other entity that is occupied or used by offenders, except as authorized by law.

( * * *23) The circuit court is authorized to issue an order to disable the contraband cell phone service from the carrier.

SECTION 2. Section 47-5-195, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

47-5-195. (1) Any person who violates any provision of Section 47-5-193 or 47-5-194 shall be guilty of a felony and upon conviction shall be punished by confinement in the Penitentiary for not less than three (3) years nor more than fifteen (15) years, and may be fined not more than Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00), or both.

(2) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be guilty of a felony and upon conviction shall be punished by confinement in the Penitentiary for not less than three (3) years nor more than seven (7) years, and may be fined not more than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00), or both.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2020.