MS SB2454

Amends Mississippi Code Section 97-3-2 to revise the list of offenses classified as crimes of violence, including driving under the influence, murder, aggravated assault, manslaughter, kidnapping, human trafficking, rape, robbery, sexual battery, carjacking, burglary of a dwelling, and shooting into a dwelling.

Removes statutory rape (Section 97-3-65(1)) from the crimes of violence classification that was previously listed as a rebuttable designation.

Adds exploitation of a child (Section 97-5-33), gratification of lust (Section 97-5-23), and shooting into a dwelling (Section 97-37-29) to the crimes of violence list.

Allows judges to classify other felony offenses with maximum sentences of at least 5 years as crimes of violence if facts show the defendant used or threatened physical force against another person during the criminal act.

Requires persons convicted of crimes of violence to serve a minimum of 50% of their imposed sentence before becoming eligible for parole or early release from the Department of Corrections, effective July 1, 2020.