Mississippi Report Card

Mississippi scored a D in the 2022 Shared Hope International Report cards.

The Project

Since 2011, Shared Hope has laid the foundation for transformational policy, practice, and cultural change by supporting state legislators and stakeholders to enact the minimum fabric of laws needed to address child sex trafficking. The Report Cards on Child & Youth Sex Trafficking build upon the last decade of progress, challenging states to take the next step in the fight against sex trafficking by focusing on the area where the largest gaps remain—victim protections. These materials provide an in-depth analysis of current laws and include recommendations to strengthen those laws.

Mississippi Report Card Issue Highlights

Mississippi Criminal Provisions

Policy goals accomplished in areas related to buyer and trafficker accountability under state CSEC laws, mistake of age defenses, decoy defenses, business entity liability under the trafficking law, and financial penalties. Gap remains related to buyer accountability under the trafficking law.

Mississippi Identification of and Response to Victims

Policy goals accomplished in areas related to third party control, non-criminalization for prostitution and sex trafficking offenses, and child abuse definitions. Gaps remain in areas related to foreign national victims, screening through child welfare and the juvenile justice system, expanded non-criminalization, juvenile court jurisdiction, and non-familial trafficking cases.

Mississippi Continuum of Care

Policy goals accomplished in areas related to MDT responses and appropriations. Gaps remain in areas related to community-based services, services through child welfare and the juvenile justice system, and extended foster care services.

Access to Justice for Trafficking survivors in Mississippi

Policy goal accomplished related to civil remedies. Gaps remain in areas related to civil orders of protection, crime victims’ compensation, vacatur, restitution, and statutes of limitation.

Tools for a Victim-Centered Criminal Justice response in Mississippi

Policy goals accomplished in areas related to victim supports and privileged communications. Gaps remain in areas related to hearsay exceptions and alternatives to live, in-court testimony.

Prevention and Training in Mississippi

Policy goals accomplished in areas related to training for child welfare and law enforcement. Gaps remain in areas related to training for juvenile justice agencies, prosecutors, and school personnel as well as prevention education in schools

Supporting Youth (18+) in Mississippi

Protections related to civil remedies and privileged communications are extended to sex trafficked youth.

Laws regarding Child Labor Trafficking in Mississippi

Protections related to child abuse definitions, services through a non-punitive system, MDT responses, civil remedies, and privileged communications are extended to child labor trafficking victims.

Mississippi Download Library

Shared Hope International continues to deploy new law review, grading, and analysis packages from November 2022 through February 2023.

2021: Report Card | Law Analysis
State Ratings under the Protected Innocence Challenge (previous framework 2011-2019) can be found here.

Download the Complete Toolkit

Get each state’s report card and analysis conveniently packaged in our 2022 Report Cards Toolkit. Download the Full Toolkit (20MB)

Legislative Technical Assistance

For legislators and partner non-profits that assist elected officials in creating legislation, request a consultation with our Policy Team. We will set up a meeting to discuss your legislative goals and create a customized goal for ongoing technical assistance, bill drafting services, and legislative support.
Request Assistance