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Mississippi Kidnapping/Abduction Laws

According to Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-53, a person is guilty of kidnapping if he without lawful authority and with or without intent to secretly confine, forcibly seizes and confines any other person, or kidnaps any other person with intent to cause victim to be confined or imprisoned against his or her will.  A person is also guilty of kidnapping if s/he without lawful authority forcibly seizes, or kidnaps any child under the age of 16 years against the will of the parents or guardian or legal guardian.

The elements of kidnapping are:
Every person who shall, without lawful authority

  • forcibly seize and confine any other;
  • or inveigle or kidnap any other
  • with intent

1)     to cause such person to be secretly confined or imprisoned against his or her will,

2)     or to cause such other person to be sent out of Mississippi against his or her will,

3)     or to cause such other person (1) to be deprived of his or her liberty, (2) or in any way held to service against his or her will.[i]

In Mississippi, a person guilty of kidnapping will be imprisoned for life in the custody of the Department of Corrections. If the jury fails to agree on fixing the penalty at imprisonment for life, the court shall fix the penalty at not less than one year and not more than 30 years in the custody of the Department of Corrections.

The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI) has general police powers. The mission of MBI is to investigate, report, and prevent criminal activities; to coordinate activities between federal, state, and local authorities involved in crime prevention and criminal investigations.

Mississippi Bureau of Investigation


[i] Hughes v. State, 401 So. 2d 1100 (Miss. 1981)


Inside Mississippi Kidnapping/Abduction Laws