House Bill 494

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 99-15-26, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO EXTEND THE AUTHORITY OF CONDITIONAL DISMISSAL IN CRIMINAL CASES TO JUSTICE AND MUNICIPAL COURTS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 99-15-26, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

99-15-26. (1) In all criminal cases, felony and misdemeanor, other than crimes against the person, the circuit, county, justice or municipal court shall be empowered, upon the entry of a plea of guilty by a criminal defendant, to withhold acceptance of the plea and sentence thereon pending successful completion of any conditions as may be imposed by the court pursuant to subdivision (2) of this section. No person having previously qualified under the provisions of this section or having ever been convicted of a felony shall be eligible to qualify for release in accordance with this section. A person shall not be eligible to qualify for release in accordance with this section if such person has been charged (a) with an offense pertaining to the sale, barter, transfer, manufacture, distribution or dispensing of a controlled substance, or the possession with intent to sell, barter, transfer, manufacture, distribute or dispense a controlled substance, as provided in Section 41-29-139(a)(1), Mississippi Code of 1972, except for a charge under said provision when the controlled substance involved is one (1) ounce or less of marihuana; (b) with an offense pertaining to the possession of one (1) kilogram or more of marihuana as provided in Section 41-29-139(c)(2)(D), Mississippi Code of 1972; or (c) with an offense under the Mississippi Implied Consent Law.

(2) Conditions which the circuit, county, justice or municipal court may impose under subdivision (1) of this section shall consist of:

(a) Reasonable restitution to the victim of the crime.

(b) Performance of not more than nine hundred sixty (960) hours of public service work approved by the court.

(d) The court may, in its discretion, require the defendant to remain in the program subject to good behavior for a period of time not to exceed five (5) years.

(3) Upon successful completion of the court-imposed conditions permitted by subdivision (2) of this section, the court shall direct that the cause be dismissed and the case be closed.

(4) The court may expunge the record of any case in which an arrest was made, the person arrested was released and the case was dismissed or the charges were dropped or there was no disposition of such case.

(5) This section shall take effect and be in force from and after March 31, 1983.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2003.