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HB 998

Mental health care personnel; clarify inclusion for enhanced penalties for violence against.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Sam Creekmore

HB 998 would have enhanced criminal penalties for violence against mental health care workers in Mississippi but died in committee without passage.

Died In Committee
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Bill Summary · HB 998

Legislative bill overview

HB 998 would have expanded Mississippi's enhanced penalty provisions for violence to explicitly include mental health care personnel as protected workers. The bill sought to clarify that assault, battery, or other violent acts against mental health professionals would carry the same enhanced criminal penalties currently applied to violence against other healthcare workers and public safety personnel.

Why is this important

Mental health professionals face significant occupational hazards, including patient aggression and violence, which can result in serious injury or trauma. Extending enhanced penalty protections sends a legislative signal about the value of these workers and may serve as a deterrent to violent behavior in mental health treatment settings, potentially improving workplace safety and retention in a profession facing staffing challenges.

Potential points of contention

  • Definitional scope: Uncertainty about which mental health workers qualify (psychiatrists, therapists, counselors, peer specialists, administrative staff) and whether the definition adequately captures the range of professionals in the field
  • Sentencing proportionality: Concerns about whether enhanced penalties for violence against one profession over others creates inconsistent criminal justice outcomes or disproportionately affects defendants with mental health conditions
  • Implementation clarity: Questions about how law enforcement and prosecutors would determine victim occupational status in real-world incidents and whether this creates administrative burden

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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