Full question:
I have a cousin who has a 5 year old child. My cousin and her husband are earning well and have a big house in Mississippi. Yesterday my cousin and her husband left their child on a street, far away from their home, with the intention to abandon their child. My cousin says that they did so because they have no means to look after the child. I know my cousin is lying. At present their child is staying with me. I want to know if there is any law in Mississippi that punishes parents for child abandonment.
- Category: Criminal
- Subcategory: Minors
- Date:
- State: Mississippi
Answer:
In Mississippi, there is a law against child abandonment. Under Mississippi Code § 97-5-1, a parent or guardian who willfully abandons a child under six years old can be punished. The law states that if a parent exposes their child in any public place with the intent to abandon them, they may face imprisonment. The punishment can be up to seven years in prison or up to one year in county jail. Therefore, your cousin and her husband could face legal consequences for abandoning their child.This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.