Assault; remove additional criminal assessment for misdemeanor offenses.
Impact
If enacted, the bill will result in a significant change to the financial penalties associated with certain offenses, particularly those classified as misdemeanors. By eliminating the additional assessment on misdemeanors, the bill seeks to ensure that individuals charged with lesser offenses do not face the same punitive financial impact as those charged with felonies. This change may encourage more individuals to plead guilty to misdemeanors or accept plea deals, impacting the overall judicial system's processing of such cases.
Summary
Senate Bill 2413 aims to amend Section 99-19-75 of the Mississippi Code of 1972 by removing the additional criminal assessment that is currently imposed for misdemeanor violations of Section 97-3-7. This section pertains to various sexual offenses. The bill, introduced by Senators Suber, Sparks, and McCaughn, retains the additional criminal assessment for felony violations of the same section. The rationale behind this differentiation is to alleviate some financial penalties associated with misdemeanor charges, which supporters argue can be disproportionately burdensome on individuals.
Contention
The legislative discussion surrounding SB2413 may include notable contention regarding the implications of reducing penalties for misdemeanor offenses. Some lawmakers and advocacy groups might express concern that reducing financial penalties could undermine efforts to deter such behaviors, particularly in cases related to sexual offenses. There could also be differing opinions on the appropriateness of diminishing accountability for misdemeanor offenses, which some constituents argue should still warrant financial penalties that contribute to programs for victims of crimes, such as those affected by human trafficking or sexual exploitation.