HB 1427

AN ACT TO CREATE THE "MISSISSIPPI ANTI-LYNCHING ACT"; TO DEFINE LYNCHING AS A DISCRIMINATORY KILLING COMMITTED BY TWO OR MORE PERSONS UNDER THE PRETEXT OF ADMINISTERING JUSTICE FOR AN ALLEGED OFFENSE; TO CREATE THE STANDALONE FELONY OFFENSE OF LYNCHING PUNISHABLE BY LIFE IMPRISONMENT WITHOUT ELIGIBILITY FOR PAROLE; TO PROVIDE FOR THE FELONY OFFENSE OF ATTEMPTED LYNCHING WITH A MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCE; TO PROVIDE FOR AIDING AND ABETTING, ORGANIZING OR INCITING, AND CONSPIRACY; TO ESTABLISH DISCRIMINATORY DEATH TRIGGERS AND MANDATORY INVESTIGATIVE PROTOCOLS; TO REQUIRE APPOINTMENT OF AN INDEPENDENT PROSECUTOR BY DEFAULT; TO REQUIRE MANDATORY REPORTING BY LOCAL AGENCIES TO THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL; TO REQUIRE A UNIFORM STATEWIDE TRACKING DATABASE AND ANNUAL REPORTS TO THE LEGISLATURE; TO REQUIRE PSYCHOLOGICAL AUTOPSIES AND FORENSIC PROTOCOLS IN CERTAIN CASES; TO REQUIRE ATTENDANCE BY AN INDEPENDENT PATHOLOGIST SELECTED BY THE FAMILY IN CERTAIN CASES; TO ESTABLISH FAMILY RIGHTS AND ANTI-INTIMIDATION PROTECTIONS; TO CREATE A CIVIL CAUSE OF ACTION FOR SURVIVAL AND WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIMS AGAINST PERPETRATORS AND ORGANIZERS, INCLUDING DAMAGES, CIVIL PENALTIES, AND ATTORNEY'S FEES; TO PROVIDE SANCTIONS FOR OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT FOR WILLFUL FAILURE TO REPORT, INVESTIGATE, OR PROSECUTE; TO CREATE AN ANTI-LYNCHING INVESTIGATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY FUND AND GRANT PROGRAM; TO PROVIDE FOR SEVERABILITY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.