Facing a criminal charge in Mississippi

Bond and pretrial release in Mississippi

Article 3 Section 29 of the Mississippi Constitution provides that excessive bail shall not be required and that all offenses are bailable by sufficient sureties except capital offenses and offenses punishable by life imprisonment when proof is evident or presumption great. Miss. Code Ann. Sec. 99-5-1 through 99-5-37 govern bail. Sec. 99-5-11 authorizes release on recognizance, cash bond, property bond, or commercial surety. Miss. Rule of Criminal Procedure 8.2 governs the initial release decision and directs the court to consider the least onerous conditions that will reasonably assure appearance and community safety. A defendant may move for reduction of bail under Sec. 99-5-21 and Rule 8.4. Many counties publish a standardized bond schedule for misdemeanors.

Bond amounts, conditions, and timelines vary by county and judge. Confirm with counsel or the court.

Criminal defense attorneys serving Mississippi

Our directory is still building in Mississippi. Public-defender intake is available now.

Record clearing in Mississippi

Mississippi expungement is governed primarily by Miss. Code Ann. 99-19-71, with additional pathways for first-offender and non-adjudication dispositions. The statute provides a petition-based pathway through the sentencing court that, when granted, restores the petitioner's status as it existed before the prosecution. The statute provides expungement of one felony conviction after a five-year waiting period from completion of sentence, with most misdemeanors eligible after the sentence is completed; serious violent crimes enumerated in 97-3-2, sex offenses, drug-trafficking offenses, and felonies against minors are excluded. The petition is filed in the sentencing court.

Eligibility, waiting periods, and the petition vs. automatic pathway depend on the conviction class and the date of the offense. Confirm with counsel or the court record.

Public defender intake in Mississippi

Mississippi Office of State Public Defender serves STATEWIDE County. Public defenders are appointed by the court based on financial eligibility. We do not refer you to a specific public defender and we do not represent you.

Public defenders are appointed by the court based on financial eligibility. LawSensai does not refer you to a public defender and does not represent you. This packet is a courtesy summary you can share with your public defender or their intake staff. You remain responsible for applying to the court for appointed counsel.