Mississippi
Categorical Right To Counsel
Discretionary Appointment Of Counsel
Right Or Appointment Is Qualified
No Such Proceeding
No Authorization, But Relevant Materials
Other
Doesn't Affect
Abuse/Neglect/Dependency - Accused Parents
Pilot
January 15, 2021
Mississippi pilots show significant benefit of counsel in child welfare cases
Pilot projects in Mississippi showed that parents benefit significantly when given access to legal counsel.
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Legislation
May 13, 2024
Mississippi finally guarantees RTC for parents in abuse/neglect cases
The state passed SB 2792, providing right to counsel to indigent custodial parents in abuse cases and to all indigent parents in TPR matters.
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Categorical
Abuse/Neglect/Dependency - Children
Legislation
Key Development
April 19, 2023
Mississippi expands child right to counsel in child welfare cases
Minors in abuse and terminations proceedings have the right to an attorney and a GAL, who may be the same person.
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Qualified
Adult Protective Proceedings - Protected Person
Legislation
Key Development
Right to counsel
There is potentially a right to counsel in vulnerable adult proceedings.
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Categorical
Bypass of Parental Input into Abortion - Minor (Pre-Dobbs)
Legislation
Key Development
Right to counsel
There is a right to counsel upon request for a minor seeking to bypass parental consent for an abortion.
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Categorical
Civil Commitment
Legislation
Key Development
Right to counsel
There is a right to counsel for respondents in civil commitment proceedings.
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Discretionary
Guardianship/Conservatorship of Adults - Protected Person
Legislation
Key Development
Discretionary appointment of counsel
A court may appoint counsel for the subject of an adult conservatorship.
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Discretionary
Guardianship/Conservatorship of Children - Child (incomplete)
Legislation
Key Development
April 16, 2019
Mississippi establishes discretionary appointment of counsel for minors in guardianship matters
The court may appoint counsel for minors in guardianship cases.
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Doesn't Affect
Incarceration for Fees/Fines (incomplete)
Legislation
February 21, 2017
Legislation (dead): fines/fees cases
A series of bills would have required appointment of counsel prior to incarceration for failure to pay fines/fees.
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Categorical
Involuntary Medical Treatment (incomplete)
Legislation
Key Development
Right to counsel
There is a right to counsel for those subject to involuntary medical treatment.
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No Such Proceeding
Sexually Dangerous Persons - Commitment
Legislation
Mississippi
There is no procedure in the state for confinement of a sexually dangerous/violent person.
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No Such Proceeding
Sterilization
Legislation
Mississippi sterilization statute repealed
The Mississippi sterilization statute was repealed in 2008.
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Qualified
Termination of Parental Rights (Private) - Children
Legislation
Key Development
Right to counsel
A state statute requires appointment of a guardian ad litem who is an attorney for children in contested adoptions.
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Categorical
Termination of Parental Rights (State) - Birth Parents
Legislation
Key Development
May 13, 2024
Mississippi finally guarantees counsel for parents in termination cases
The state passed SB 2792, providing right to counsel to all indigent parents in termination of parental rights cases.
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Categorical
Termination of Parental Rights (State) - Children
Legislation
Key Development
April 19, 2023
Mississippi expands child right to counsel in child welfare cases
Minors in abuse and terminations proceedings have the right to an attorney and a GAL, who may be the same person.
Read More
Categorical
Truancy - Petition Against Child
Legislation
Key Development
Right to counsel
Indigent Mississippi children have a right to counsel in truancy (which is treated either as a status offense or as a dependency matter).
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