Crime in Mississippi
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{{update|date=October 2023}}
File:Mississippi Prison Population.svg
In 2016 there were 91,115 crimes reported in the U.S. state of Mississippi, including 238 murders.{{Cite web|url=http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/mscrimn.htm|title=Mississippi Crime Rates 1960 - 2016|website=www.disastercenter.com}} In 2017–2018 the violent crime rate dropped 8%.{{Cite web|url=https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2018/crime-in-the-u.s.-2018/tables/table-4/table-4.xls|title=Table 4|website=FBI|language=en-us|access-date=2020-04-03}}
Out of 50 states, Mississippi ranked 41st in terms of public safety in 2024.{{cite web |title=Public Safety |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/crime-and-corrections/public-safety |website=U.S. News |publisher=U.S. News |access-date=12 March 2025}} Social crimes such as drug offenses and possession,{{cite web |title=Society Crimes 2024 Mississippi |url=https://mscrimestats.dps.ms.gov/tops/report/society-crime/mississippi/2024 |website=Mississippi Crime Statistics |access-date=12 March 2025}} as well as property crimes such as robbery saw an overall decrease in 2024.{{cite web |title=Property Crimes 2024 Mississippi |url=https://mscrimestats.dps.ms.gov/tops/report/property-crimes/mississippi/2024 |website=Mississippi Crime Statistics |access-date=12 March 2025}} However, violent offenses increased in the state by 1.27% compared to the previous year.{{cite web |title=Violent Crime 2024 Mississippi |url=https://mscrimestats.dps.ms.gov/tops/report/violent-crimes/mississippi/2024 |website=Mississippi Crime Statistics |access-date=12 March 2025}}
Cities
The city listed in Mississippi as the safest is Madison. As of 2018 there were only 18 violent crimes.{{Cite web|url=https://www.alarms.org/safest-cities-in-mississippi/|title=Safest Cities in Mississippi - 2020 {{!}} National Council For Home Safety and Security|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-03}} As of 2020, the most violent city in Mississippi is Jackson, Mississippi.{{Cite web|url=https://www.roadsnacks.net/these-are-the-10-most-dangerous-cities-in-mississippi/|title=These Are The 10 Most Dangerous Cities In Mississippi For 2019|date=2019-11-23|website=RoadSnacks|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-03}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.homesnacks.net/ms/pascagoula/|title=Living In Pascagoula, MS|website=HomeSnacks|language=en|access-date=2020-04-03}}
Capital punishment laws
{{Main|Capital punishment in Mississippi}}
Capital punishment is applied in this state,{{Cite web|url=http://www.religioustolerance.org/execut3.htm|title=Facts about capital punishment - the death penalty|website=www.religioustolerance.org}} and has been used since 1871. Hanging was the original method of execution in the state, though a variety of legislation surrounding the death sentence has led to the implementation or removal of methods. Currently, electrocution, nitrogen hypoxia, lethal injection and firing squad are all approved means of carrying out the death penalty.{{cite web |title=Death Penalty in Mississippi |url=https://www.mdoc.ms.gov/general-public/death-row/death-penalty-mississippi |website=Mississippi Department of Corrections |publisher=Mississippi Department of Corrections |access-date=12 March 2025}}
One of the two death sentences of Willie Jerome Manning attracted national attention in May 2013 when the Federal Bureau of Investigation rescinded an evidence report days before Manning's scheduled execution. A key witness in the case would then recant their testimony, leading the charges against Manning for the 1996 Jimmerson-Jordan murders to be dropped. Manning then became the fourth death row exoneree in Mississippi.{{cite web |title=Charges Dropped Against Willie Manning; Becomes 153rd Death Row Exoneree |url=https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/charges-dropped-against-willie-manning-becomes-153rd-death-row-exoneree |website=Death Penalty Information |access-date=12 March 2025}}