Mississippi Code
Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-153 (2026)
Declaration of purpose
✓ current as of July 2026
- (1) The Legislature finds and declares that:
- (a) Protection of the public, restitution to the crime victim and the crime victim's family and just punishment for the harm inflicted are primary objectives of the sentencing process;
- (b) The financial, emotional and physical effects of a criminal act on the victim and the victim's family are among the essential factors to be considered in the sentencing of the person responsible for the crime;
- (c) In order to impose a just sentence, the court must obtain and consider information about the adverse impact of the crime upon the victim and the victim's family as well as information from and about the defendant; and
- (d) The victim of the crime or a relative of the victim is usually in the best position to provide information to the court about the direct impact of the crime on the victim and the victim's family.
- (2) Therefore, the Legislature declares that the purpose of Sections 99-19-151 through 99-19-161 is to provide the sentencing court with a victim impact statement prior to sentencing a convicted offender who has caused physical, emotional or financial harm to a victim as defined herein.
Laws, 1987, ch. 433, § 2, eff. 7/1/1987.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 4
cases, 2001–2006 · leading case: Swindle v. State, 881 So. 2d 281 (Miss. Ct. App. 2003).
Swindle v. State, 881 So. 2d 281 (Miss. Ct. App. 2003). “" Miss.Code Ann. § 99-19-153(Rev.2000). To that end, the relevant statute permits such a statement from the victim that is intended to provide "information about the financial, emotional and physical effects of the crime on the victim .”
Swindle v. State, 881 So. 2d 174 (Miss. 2004). “Miss.Code Ann. § 99-19-153 (Rev.2000). ¶ 16.”
Darrell Swindle v. State of Mississippi, No. 2001-CT-01668-SCT (Miss. July 27, 2001). “Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-153 (Rev. 2000). ¶16.”
Eric Moffett v. State of Mississippi, No. 2008-DP-00541-SCT (Miss. Feb. 26, 2006). “” Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-153 (1)(d) (Rev. 2007).”
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