New Mississippi law expands death penalty to include inmates on child sexual battery convictions

A new Mississippi law, Senate Bill 2821, expands the death penalty eligibility to include cases of sexual battery involving a child under 12 by creating the crime of "capital sexual battery." The legislation requires specific jury findings for a death sentence; otherwise, it mandates life in prison without parole. Critics argue that such laws may deter victims from reporting abuse or that alternative punishments are sufficient.