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Three Strikes and Habitual Offender Laws in Mississippi

How Mississippi law treats three strikes and habitual offender laws, from the state code and official state agencies.

Short answer: Mississippi has two habitual-offender laws. A person convicted of a felony who has two prior felony convictions (state or federal), from separate incidents, each with a sentence of one year or more, must get the maximum prison term for the new felony unless the judge explains in the… Miss. Code Ann. §§ 99-19-81, 99-19-83

Three strikes and habitual offender lawsMississippi has two habitual-offender laws. A person convicted of a felony who has two prior felony convictions (state or federal), from separate incidents, each with a sentence of one year or more, must get the maximum prison term for the new felony unless the judge explains in the sentencing order why not, and is not eligible for parole or probation. If the person actually served at least one year on each of the two prior felonies and one of them was a 'crime of violence' under § 97-3-2, the sentence is life imprisonment, with no reduction, suspension, parole, probation or other early release.
Read on codes.findlaw.com (a public copy of the official code); check against the official code. § 99-19-83: https://codes.findlaw.com/ms/title-99-criminal-procedure/ms-code-sect-99-19-83.html. FindLaw copy current as of January 1, 2025.
Source: Miss. Code Ann. §§ 99-19-81, 99-19-83

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FAQ

Does Mississippi have a three strikes law?
Mississippi has two habitual-offender laws. A person convicted of a felony who has two prior felony convictions (state or federal), from separate incidents, each with a sentence of one year or more, must get the maximum prison term for the new felony unless the judge explains in the sentencing order why not, and is not eligible for parole or probation. If the person actually served at least one year on each of the two prior felonies and one of them was a 'crime of violence' under § 97-3-2, the sentence is life imprisonment, with no reduction, suspension, parole, probation or other early release.

General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.