The growth of Pearl, Mississippi came when development in the state capital of Jackson spilled over, and the flood threats of the Pearl River were successfully controlled. For most of the 20th century, Pearl was primarily a white-only community—in 1970, the city had 9,613 white residents and 10 black residents. By the 1990’s, the city of Pearl had become more racially integrated, with blacks making up nearly a quarter of the total population.
In 1968, the “Boundary Committee presented suggested boundaries for Pearl, and by 1969 it was voted to approve the boundaries which included the area from the Pearl River to the Airport Road (excluding East Jackson) and Grandview Heights and Cunningham Heights south of Interstate 20. While the original incorporated city included about 11 square miles, over the years the boundaries have expanded to now include nearly 24 square miles. At the meeting which established the boundaries of Pearl, the name was also up for selection, with Riverview and Brightsville also considered. Today, Pearl, Mississippi is the largest city in Rankin County, with an estimated population of more than 26,000.
In 1987 George Kersh, a Pearl High School track star, shattered the national high school record in the 800-meter run. In 2005 an affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, the Mississippi Braves were welcomed to their new home in Pearl to a ball park situated on 30 acres and costing $28 million. In 2013, the 325,000 square ft. Outlets of Mississippi opened on Bass Pro Drive in the city of Pearl.
Today, Pearl is a thriving city, with the state capital of Jackson less than ten minutes away. This means while you can enjoy the small-town feel of Pearl, you are only a few miles from seeing the Mississippi Museum of Natural History, the Mississippi Children’s Museum, the Eudora Welty House and Garden, the Civil Rights Museum, the Mississippi Museum of Art, the Russell C. Davis Planetarium, the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Lucky Town Brewing Company—to name just a few.
Pearl Municipal Court
The Pearl, Mississippi Municipal Court is located at 2422 Old Brandon Road in Pearl. Judges at the Pearl Municipal Court are Judge John Shirley and Judge Richard Redfern. The Court Clerk at the Pearl Municipal Court is Kathy Dennis and the Prosecutor is Jim Bobo. The Pearl Municipal Court schedules hearings on Thursdays at 8:00 a.m. Visitors to the Pearl, Mississippi who receive a traffic or misdemeanor offense ticket while in the city of Pearl will be required to attend this Thursday court.
City ordinance violations are also heard in the Pearl Municipal Court and virtually any arrest made within the city limits of Pearl will be resolved in the Pearl Municipal Court. Initial appearances for those accused of a felony within the city of Pearl will also be heard in the Pearl Municipal Court. The Mississippi Highway Patrol as well as the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department also have the authority to make arrests within the Pearl city limits as well as in Rankin County.
Felonies and Misdemeanors
Criminal justice systems across the United States divide criminal offenses into categories which reflect the seriousness of the offense. The primary categories are misdemeanors and felonies, although within these two categories are additional levels or classes. The major categories are usually determined by the amount of jail or prison time possible. Typically, when determining the difference between a misdemeanor and felony, the answer can be found in the maximum potential jail or prison time. Unlike other states, Mississippi does not divide felonies and misdemeanors into sub-classifications which carry a specific range of penalties, rather each offense carries its own sentence. In other words, the Mississippi criminal statutes provide potential penalties for each individual felony.
A capital felony is punishable by the death penalty; a capital murder offense is one in which the murder:
Was perpetrated through the use of an explosive device;
Was perpetrated for capital or personal gain;
Was perpetrated on any property owned by an educational institution;
Resulted in the death of a firefighter;
Resulted in the death of a peace officer (attorneys, court officials, police officers);
Resulted in the death of three or more people through one act;
Three or more people were killed by the perpetrator within a three-year period;
Resulted in the death of an elected official;
Was perpetrated by a person who was serving a sentence of life in prison, or
Occurred while the criminal was committing another felony offense against a minor.
The death penalty (capital punishment) can also be imposed for treason and hijacking an aircraft in the state of Mississippi. Lethal injection is the only method of execution used in the state. Other Mississippi felonies and their penalties include:
The offense of murder in the state of Mississippi (which does not meet capital murder requirements) carries a penalty of life in prison.
The offense of manslaughter in the state of Mississippi carries a penalty of a fine of not less than $500 or up to a year in jail (or both) or as much as 20 years in prison.
The offense of sexual battery in the state of Mississippi carries a penalty of up to 30 years in prison for an offender over the age of 21 or a fine as large as $10,000, or both.
The offense of domestic violence in the state of Mississippi carries a penalty of up to six months in jail, a fine of $500, or both.
The offense of robbery in the state of Mississippi carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison.
The offense of computer fraud which results in damages or losses amounting to $500 or more is up to five years in prison, a fine as large as $10,000, or both.
The offense of possession of 50-150 grams or 100-500 dosage units of a Class V substance (codeine or other less addictive drugs) carries a penalty of 1-4 years in prison and a fine as large as $10,000.
Misdemeanor offenses in the state of Mississippi typically include first-offense DUI, shoplifting less than $500, petty theft, simple battery, possession of less than 30 grams of marijuana and carrying a concealed weapon. The maximum sentence for a misdemeanor offense is up to one year in jail and fines up to $1,000. If you are charged with a Mississippi felony or misdemeanor, it is imperative that you speak to an experienced Mississippi criminal defense attorney as quickly as possible.
