S.Harrison - March 14, 2024 - 'Sitting Out' Mandatory Human Trafficking Assessment

550 HIGH STREET • SUITE 1200 • JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI 39201 POST OFFICE BOX 220 • JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI 39205 TELEPHONE (601) 359-3680 March 14, 2024 The Honorable Scottie Harrison Justice Court Judge, Pontotoc County 171 Highway 15 North Pontotoc, Mississippi 38863 Re: “Sitting Out” Mandatory Human Trafficking Assessment Dear Judge Harrison: The Office of the Attorney General has received your request for an official opinion. Question Presented Can the mandatory $1000.00 Victims of Human Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation Fund assessment imposed by the state under Mississippi Code Annotated Section 99-19-75(2) be worked off or “sat out” in jail? Brief Response No. There is no authority for a judge to allow a defendant to “sit out” or work off the mandatory $1000.00 Human Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation Fund state assessment imposed under Mississippi Code Annotated Section 99-19-75(2). Applicable Law and Discussion Section 99-19-75, “Assessments for certain crimes against persons; deposits in Children’s Trust Fund or Victims of Human Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation Fund,” requires additional assessments to be paid into one of two specific funds when a defendant is found guilty of violating certain code sections: (1) In addition to any monetary penalties and any other penalties imposed by law, there shall be imposed and collected from each person upon whom a court imposes a fine or other penalty for any violation of Section 97-3-65, 97-5-1 et seq. or 97-3- 7, when committed against a minor, an assessment of One Thousand Dollars Hon. Scottie Harrison March 14, 2024 Page 2 550 HIGH STREET • SUITE 1200 • JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI 39201 POST OFFICE BOX 220 • JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI 39205 TELEPHONE (601) 359-3680 ($1,000.00) to be deposited into the Mississippi Children's Trust Fund created in Section 93-21-305, using the procedures described in Section 99-19-73. (2) In addition to any monetary penalties and any other penalties imposed by law, there shall be imposed and collected from each person upon whom a court imposes a fine or other penalty for any violation of Section 97-3-7, 97-3-54.1, 97-3-65, 97- 3-95, 97-5-1 et seq., or 97-29-51 an assessment of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) to be deposited into the “Victims of Human Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation Fund” created in Section 2 of this act. (emphasis added). Subsection (2) imposes a $1000.00 assessment to be paid into the Victims of Human Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation Fund (“Human Trafficking Fund”). The use of the word “shall” dictates that these assessments be imposed and collected with no judicial discretion on the issue. Pitalo v. GPCH-GP, Inc., 933 So. 2d 927, 929 (Miss. 2006) (“Simply stated, “shall” is mandatory, while “may” is discretionary.”). While the term assessment is not defined in the code, Merriam-Webster defines assessment as “an amount that a person is officially required to pay.” Assessment, MERRIAM-WEBSTER.COM, https://www.merriam- webster.com/dictionary/assessment (last visited March 13, 2024). Assessments, mandated by and remitted to the state, differ from fines, fees, and court costs. As previously stated by this office in reference to Section 99-19-75(1), “a judge is without the authority to suspend a mandatory state assessment.” MS AG Op., Lawrence at *1 (Apr. 14, 2006) (citing MS AG Op., Knight (Aug. 31, 2001) and MS AG Op., Peterson (Oct. 11, 1996)). You ask whether a defendant guilty of one of the enumerated offenses —and “upon whom a court imposes a fine or other penalty”— could “sit out” or work off the assessment. Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-75(2). We understand “sit out” means to place the defendant in jail to earn credit towards paying off a court-imposed debt such as a fine or court costs. While no statute contemplates that exact scenario, three statutes address a defendant’s ability to get credit toward fines and costs measured by time incarcerated as an alternative to direct payment. Section 47-1-47 addresses an incarcerated defendant’s ability to work and receive credit towards fines and costs until they are paid. Sections 99-19-20(2) and 99-19-20.1 address a court’s discretion to imprison a defendant until a court-imposed fine, restitution, or court costs are paid, provided the court has found that the defendant is financially able to pay, and non-payment is willful. Notably, all of the above Sections deal specifically with court-imposed fines, costs, and/or restitution. They do not apply to state- mandated assessments. In sum, it is the opinion of this office that there is no authority for a judge to allow a defendant to “sit out” or work off the mandatory $1000.00 Human Trafficking state assessment imposed under Mississippi Code Annotated Section 99-19-75(2). The state assessment is mandatory and must be imposed and collected. To the extent that this opinion conflicts with any opinions previously issued by this office, those opinions are modified prospectively to conform herewith. Hon. Scottie Harrison March 14, 2024 Page 3 550 HIGH STREET • SUITE 1200 • JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI 39201 POST OFFICE BOX 220 • JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI 39205 TELEPHONE (601) 359-3680 If this office may be of any further assistance to you, please do not hesitate to contact us. Sincerely, LYNN FITCH, ATTORNEY GENERAL By: /s/ Misty Monroe Misty Monroe Assistant Attorney General