Mississippi — Registry Rules

• Who: Adults with a registrable conviction, certain juveniles, and nonresidents who live, work, or attend school in Mississippi; see Miss. Code Ann. § 45-33-25.
• Initial deadline: Deadline: Register with the responsible agency and appear at a Department of Public Safety (DPS) facility within 3 business days when the duty attaches; movers/returning residents must give DPS 10 days’ prior notice and register within 3 business days after first residing in a county; see § 45-33-27(1),(4)–(5).
• Verification: Verification: Most registrants must re-register every 90 days; those in compliance with electronic monitoring re-register annually; see § 45-33-31(1).
• Primary method: Method: In person at a DPS-designated facility (or as DPS allows by electronic means) and obtain a sex-offender registration card; keep receipts; see § 45-33-27.
• ⚠️ Residency ban: 3,000 ft from schools, child-care, and certain youth facilities; limited grandfathering; see § 45-33-25(4).
• ⚠️ Address moves require 10-day prior notice to DPS; other changes often within 3 business days; see § 45-33-29.
• ⚠️ Failure to register/verify is a felony (up to 5 years and $5,000 fine); see § 45-33-33(2).
• ⚠️ Employment that involves direct, private, unsupervised contact with minors triggers written employer notice duties; see § 45-33-59.
• ⚠️ Public website disclosure applies; misuse of registry info is punishable; see § 45-33-49.
• ⚠️ DPS charges an $11 fee each registration; appointments recommended; see DPS Driver Service Bureau.

Scope: Anyone with a registrable sex offense (in MS or equivalent from another jurisdiction), including certain juvenile adjudications involving force, and nonresidents who reside, work, or attend school in MS; see § 45-33-25(1),(1)(b).

Duration: Registration lasts 15/25/life depending on tier, with petitions to remove available only after the applicable minimum and subject to disqualifiers, per § 45-33-47(2)–(4).

• Initial: Register with the responsible agency and appear at DPS within 3 business days when the duty attaches; movers/returning residents give 10-day prior DPS notice and register within 3 business days after arrival; see § 45-33-27(1),(4)–(5).
• Address: Personally appear ≥10 days before changing address (including temporary lodging); see § 45-33-29(1).
• School status: Report enrollment/employment/vocation changes at any educational institution within 3 business days; see § 45-33-29(2).
• Employment/name: Report within 3 business days of change; see § 45-33-29(3).
• Vehicles: Report vehicle info changes within 3 business days; see § 45-33-29(4).
• Internet IDs: Report new/changed email, IM, or other internet identifiers within 3 business days; see § 45-33-29(5).

• 90-day re-registration: Most must personally appear every 90 days (DPS may allow electronic means) to update information and photo and obtain the renewal card; see § 45-33-31(1)(b),(2).
• Annual if monitored: Those in compliance with electronic monitoring re-register annually; see § 45-33-31(1)(a).
• Admin rule: DPS rules reiterate in-person 90-day reregistration and required items; see 31 Miss. Code R. 2-12-12.

Residency zones: Registrants may not reside within 3,000 ft of schools, child-care facilities, certain child-caring agencies, or playgrounds/ballparks/youth recreational facilities, with limited exceptions (e.g., pre-existing residence dates); see § 45-33-25(4). Presence limits: Being on school property or certain child-gathering places is restricted unless statutory exceptions apply; see § 45-33-26.

• Work/School triggers duty: Nonresidents who work or attend school in MS must register; see § 45-33-25(1).
• Employer notice: If a job or contract involves direct, private, unsupervised contact with minors, registrant must notify the employer in writing; employers must attempt to notify parents/guardians; see § 45-33-59.
• Internet identifiers: Must disclose and timely update emails/usernames/IDs; see § 45-33-25(2)(w) and § 45-33-29(5).

• Public posting: DPS must make defined registry information available online and participate in NSOPW; misuse of information is penalized; see § 45-33-49 and MS Registry.

• Moving/returning to MS: Provide 10-day prior notice to DPS and register within 3 business days after first residing in a county; see § 45-33-27(5).
• Away from home: There is a statutory presumption to update if away from a registered address ≥7 aggregate days in 6 months; see § 45-33-25(2)(b).

• Short visits: Mississippi law focuses on residence, employment, or school to trigger full registration; verify with DPS for extended visits because being away ≥7 days from a registered address creates update duties and stays of 7+ days may be treated as residence; see § 45-33-25(2)(b) and § 45-33-27.
• Check NSOPW & DPS: Cross-check details before travel using NSOPW and MS DPS resources.

Penalties: Violations of Chapter 33 are felonies unless otherwise specified, punishable by up to 5 years and $5,000; repeat/monitoring violations can trigger mandatory electronic monitoring; see § 45-33-33 and § 45-33-47(5).

• Tiers & durations: Tier 1 = 15 years (may petition after 15 years); Tier 2 = 25 years (may petition after 25 years); Tier 3 = lifetime (no relief except narrow statutory carve-outs); see § 45-33-47(2)(b)–(d).
• Who can petition: File in sentencing circuit court (or MS county of residence for out-of-state convictions) after maintaining MS registration for the required minimum; incarceration restarts the clock; see § 45-33-47(2)(a).
• Lifetime mandates: Certain offenders (e.g., victim ≤14 with offender ≥21; two separate registrable convictions) are lifetime with no relief; limited juvenile carve-out after 25 years; see § 45-33-47(2)(e)–(g).

• Juveniles: Specific youth-court adjudications involving force require registration; some juveniles face lifetime but may petition after 25 years; see § 45-33-25(1)(b) and § 45-33-47(2)(g).
• Parents at schools: Presence restrictions include limited exceptions (e.g., supervised school visits for a child); review statutory conditions; see § 45-33-26.

• $11 registration fee collected by DPS each time you register/reregister; appointments recommended; see DPS Driver Service Bureau.

• Statute: HB 1004 (Ch. 515) — 2024 Regular; effective 2024-07-01. Amended § 45-33-25 addressing registration procedures and scope; confirm current text for residency and process details. link