Mississippi has introduced a law allowing prosecutors to seek the death penalty in certain child sexual battery cases. The measure expands the state’s list of capital offences and is significant because it applies the most severe criminal penalty to a non-homicide offence.

Senate Bill 2821 took effect on 1 July and creates a new offence called “capital sexual battery”. It applies to defendants aged 18 or over accused of sexually battering a child under 12, giving prosecutors the option to pursue a death sentence in qualifying cases.