MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2025 Regular Session
To: Judiciary B
By: Representatives Grady, Felsher, Hawkins, Hulum, Lott, McMillan, Thompson, Porter
AN ACT TO PROVIDE THAT WHENEVER AN INMATE OR DETAINEE ESCAPES FROM A PRISON FACILITY, THE MISSISSIPPI BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT SHALL BE IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED OF THE ESCAPE; TO PROVIDE WHO SHALL MAKE THE NOTIFICATION UPON THE ESCAPE; TO PROVIDE CERTAIN PENALTIES IF SUCH NOTIFICATION DOES NOT OCCUR; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. (1) The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and local law enforcement shall be immediately notified within an hour of an inmate or detainee escape as soon as that escape is known. If the escape occurred at a local jail or regional correctional facility, the sheriff shall make the notification. If the escape occurred at a state prison facility, then the Mississippi Department of Corrections shall make the notification of the escape.
(2) In addition to the notification requirements under subsection (1), local law enforcement, where appropriate, shall notify the victims of the person who has escaped from the local jail, regional correctional facility or state prison facility, as the case may be.
As used under this section, "local law enforcement" means the sheriff and police chiefs in the county where the escape occurred and where the original crime took place.
(3) If any local law enforcement agency or the Department of Corrections violates any provision of this act, the agency or the department shall be assessed the following fines:
(a) First offense, One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00);
(b) Second offense, Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00); and
(c) Third and subsequent offenses, Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00).
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2025.