Can the parental rights of the abuser be terminated?
Parental rights in Mississippi can be terminated for various reasons, some of which are related to domestic violence or sexual abuse. Parental rights could be terminated if the parent:
- is not meeting the needs of the child including food, clothing, shelter or medical care;
- is not communicating or visiting the child;
- has been abusive or neglectful and it has caused the child’s dislike towards that parent;
- is suffering from alcoholism or other drug addiction and has not been able to successfully complete an alcohol or drug treatment;
- has been abusive towards your child or another child, and having future contact with that parent is undesirable;
- has been convicted of any of the following offenses against any child:
- rape;
- sexual battery;
- touching a child for lustful purposes;
- exploitation of a child (as described under sections 97-5-31 through 97-5-37);
- felonious abuse or battery of a child;
- carnal knowledge of a step or adopted child or a child of a cohabitating partner; or
- human trafficking of a child; or
- has been convicted of:
- murder or voluntary manslaughter of his/her child;
- aiding, abetting, attempting, or soliciting, or conspiring to commit murder or voluntary manslaughter of his/her child;
- felony assault that resulted in “serious bodily injury” to his/her child.1
1 Miss. Code § 93-15-121