Mississippi Domestic Violence Law
Mississippi Domestic Violence Defense
What you're facing under Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-7(3), how the penalties scale, and the questions your attorney needs to answer, specific to Mississippi (MS) domestic violence law.
Offense Class
Misdemeanor (first/second); Felony (third+)
Maximum Penalty
6 months (first); 1 year (second); 5 years (third+)
Maximum Fine
$1,000 (first); $5,000 (second); $10,000 (third+)
Federal Firearms Prohibition (Lautenberg Amendment)
A conviction for misdemeanor domestic violence in Mississippi carries a federalfirearms-possession ban under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(9). This consequence is collateral to Mississippi state penalties and applies regardless of the state sentence imposed.
Penalty Range in Mississippi
Charge Enhancements
These factors can elevate the charge or penalty in Mississippi:
- Third or subsequent offense (felony, up to 5 years or 10 years under § 97-3-7(4))
- Strangulation (§ 97-3-7(4)(c), up to 5 years)
Mississippi-Specific Detail
Third DV offense is a felony regardless of severity. Aggravated domestic violence (§ 97-3-7(4)) carries up to 20 years.
Is your Mississippi domestic violence case defense on track?
The free Defense Score checks 10 critical defense behaviors specific to domestic violence cases. Takes 2 minutes. Instant results.
Take the Free Defense ScoreDUI Defense Playbook — $127
26 questions that change how the next attorney meeting goes, a case stage roadmap, red flag checklist, and a case progress scorecard. Instant PDF download, relevant to Mississippi defendants.
Important: This page provides legal INFORMATION about Mississippi domestic violence law as of the date of publication. Laws change frequently. This is not legal advice. The analysis draws on methods developed by defense attorneys, applied to public data. Your attorney remains the final authority on defense direction.