The youth court system in Mississippi is one new approach for first time and nonviolent teen offenders. According to the US National Gang Center, not only do youth courts repeatedly demonstrate lower recidivism rates compared to juvenile courts, but they also free up...
Year: 2020
Intervention courts may prevent a criminal record
Researchers understand that incarceration serves well as punishment and keeps offenders from harming the public, but jail or prison time rarely functions as rehabilitation. In fact, people who have spent time in jail due to drug or alcohol use are more likely to...
Underage DUI in Mississippi
Summer has come to Mississippi, packing the roads with cars. Whether taking the family out on Arkabutla Lake for the weekend or looking for a fun night up in Memphis, drivers must take care during these warm months when the roads become much more dangerous. Teenagers...
Mississippi governor vetoes criminal justice reform
In July 2020, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves vetoed two bills that addressed criminal justice reform. The debate over Mississippi’s overcrowded prisons has accelerated, leaving many bipartisan lawmakers to condemn the governor’s action. Senate Bill 2123 and House...
Do young adults belong in the juvenile justice system?
Distinguishing the age in which a minor officially becomes an adult is a tricky task. While most states in the U.S. consider the age of legal adulthood – the age of majority – 18 years old, in Mississippi, you’re not an adult in the eyes of the law until you turn 21....
What happens to repeat DUI offenders in Mississippi?
Many Mississippi residents rely on their cars heavily. Families need a vehicle to commute to and from work, take the kids to soccer and purchase groceries at the local store. For many people, owning a car goes beyond a privilege — a car might be necessary to maintain...
Charges dropped against woman who called her parents racist on Facebook
A family fight on social media over a car led to criminal charges against a Mississippi woman, but the police have since dropped the charges. On June 5, the woman, 21, made a post on her Facebook page accusing her parents of racism and her mother of abusing her....
What are the causes of juvenile crime?
If your child has been accused of a crime, you may feel confused and heartbroken. How could your son or daughter have ended up in this situation? What taught them that this kind of behavior is okay? Common life experiences among juvenile offenders Psychologists have...
How to expunge a criminal record in Mississippi
Convicted criminals carry a heavy burden in the United States. Though their sentence complete and restitution paid, many people continue to pay for their mistake for years. Whether applying for an apartment, interviewing for a job or attempting to secure a home loan,...
Could kleptomania be to blame for your recent theft charge?
Somehow, you have found yourself charged with shoplifting from a business in Mississippi. You may agree with the use of the word, "somehow," because it felt like you were not in control of your body when the crime occurred. Could undiagnosed kleptomania be the reason...