MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2001 Regular Session

To: Judiciary

By: Senator(s) Dawkins

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 97-5-41, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE OFFENSE OF CARNAL KNOWLEDGE OF CERTAIN CHILDREN; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 97-5-41, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

97-5-41. (1) Any person who shall have carnal knowledge of his or her unmarried stepchild or adopted child younger than himself or herself and over sixteen (16) and under eighteen (18) years of age, upon conviction, shall be punished by imprisonment in the penitentiary for a term not exceeding twenty (20) years.

(2) Any person who shall have carnal knowledge of an unmarried child younger than himself or herself and over sixteen (16) and under eighteen (18) years of age, with whose parent he or she is cohabiting or living together as husband and wife, upon conviction, shall be punished by imprisonment in the penitentiary for a term not exceeding twenty (20) years.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.