Sex Offender Registry
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Mandatory Reporters of Child Abuse and Neglect
Mississippi Ann. Code § 43-21-353 sets forth a list of professionals required to report suspected child abuse or neglect (including sexual abuse) to authorities. The list includes medical and mental health care providers, public or private school employees, child care providers, attorneys, ministers, and law enforcement officials. In addition, all other persons who have reasonable cause to suspect that a child is abused or neglected must report.
Reports must be made immediately.
Sexual Abuse and Exploitation
Mississippi Ann. Code § 43-21-105 provides that ‘abused child’ means a child whose parent, guardian, custodian, or any person responsible for his or her care or support, whether or not legally obligated to do so, has caused or allowed to be caused upon the child nonaccidental physical injury or other maltreatment.
The term ‘abused child’ includes sexual abuse or sexual exploitation.
‘Sexual abuse’ means obscene or pornographic photographing, filming, or depiction of children for commercial purposes, or the rape, molestation, incest, prostitution, or other such forms of sexual exploitation of children under circumstances that indicate that the child’s health or welfare is harmed or threatened.