Sexual Assault Attorneys in Mississippi: Your Complete Legal Guide
Mississippi has one of the most restrictive civil statute of limitations frameworks for sexual assault survivors in the United States. ChildUSA, the national research organization that grades states on survivor-friendly civil laws, assigned Mississippi an F rating for its civil SOL age cap. The general civil SOL for personal injury claims is three years under Miss. Code Ann. § 15-1-49, and unlike most states, Mississippi has made no significant legislative effort to extend or eliminate this window for sexual abuse claims. Survivors must act quickly. The three-year window, the narrowness of tolling exceptions, and the absence of a revival window make prompt consultation with a civil plaintiff attorney essential.
Understanding Mississippi Sexual Assault Laws
Criminal Statutes of Limitations
Mississippi has no criminal statute of limitations for rape. Under Miss. Code Ann. § 99-1-5, the limitations period for criminal prosecution does not apply to murder, manslaughter, rape, or crimes punishable by death or life imprisonment. For sexual battery and other serious sexual offenses that carry substantial prison terms, Mississippi courts have construed the no-limitations rule broadly. Survivors who choose to report to law enforcement can do so at any point in time for rape, and prosecutors face no filing deadline for the most serious charges.
For lesser sexual offenses not punishable by life imprisonment, a two-year criminal limitations period may apply under general Mississippi law, though the applicable criminal SOL varies by specific charge. Survivors should consult with a victim’s rights advocate or attorney for guidance on the criminal timeline relevant to their specific circumstances.
Civil Statutes of Limitations
Adult survivors:
Mississippi’s general personal injury statute of limitations is three years under Miss. Code Ann. § 15-1-49. For adult sexual assault survivors, the clock generally begins on the date of the assault. A discovery rule may apply in limited circumstances: if the survivor did not and could not reasonably have discovered the injury or its causal connection to the assault, courts may begin the limitations clock from the date of discovery rather than the date of the abuse. Mississippi courts have applied this discovery rule narrowly and inconsistently outside of the latent-injury context, so adult survivors should consult an attorney immediately rather than relying on discovery rule tolling.
There is an important nuance regarding the cause of action: claims framed as assault and battery (an intentional tort specifically listed in Mississippi’s one-year limitations statute under Miss. Code Ann. § 15-1-35) may carry a one-year deadline rather than three. Survivors who have claims sounding in negligence, negligent supervision, or intentional infliction of emotional distress typically have three years. The framing of the claim is a legal determination best made with an attorney.
Child survivors:
Under Mississippi’s general tolling rule for minors (Miss. Code Ann. § 15-1-57), the statute of limitations does not begin to run until the plaintiff reaches the age of majority at 21. For a child abused at any age, the three-year clock begins on their 21st birthday, giving them until age 24 to file a civil claim. This is among the most restrictive child abuse SOLs in the country – ChildUSA grades this an F – as the average age at which childhood sexual abuse survivors first disclose or seek legal redress is well into adulthood, often in the 40s and 50s.
Mississippi applies the discovery rule to child abuse claims: if a survivor could not reasonably have discovered the causal connection between the childhood abuse and its psychological or physical effects before age 24, the three-year period may begin from discovery rather than from age 21. This is one of the most important tolling arguments available to Mississippi survivors who exceed the age-24 deadline, and courts have been willing to apply it in cases where expert testimony establishes that the abuse caused suppressed memory or dissociation preventing earlier discovery.
No criminal conviction required:
A civil claim may proceed regardless of whether any criminal prosecution was ever brought and regardless of whether any prosecution resulted in a conviction.
Institutional liability:
Mississippi law recognizes institutional negligence claims – against schools, churches, employers, sports organizations, and other entities whose negligent hiring, supervision, or retention enabled the abuse. These claims require establishing that the institution knew or should have known about the abuser’s propensity for abuse and failed to act. The SOL for institutional negligence claims generally follows the same three-year framework as personal injury claims under § 15-1-49.
Important note: Mississippi has not passed any revival window legislation. There is no window allowing survivors whose claims were previously time-barred to refile. If your claim has expired under current Mississippi law, it remains barred absent a court finding of tolling (discovery rule, disability, fraudulent concealment, or estoppel). Legislative reform advocates are pressing for change but no bills were scheduled as of early 2026. Survivors who believe they may be time-barred should still consult an attorney to explore tolling arguments before concluding that no remedy exists.
Mississippi Sexual Assault Attorneys
The Cochran Firm – Jackson
Address: 200 South Lamar Street, Suite 900N, Jackson, MS 39201
Website: https://www.cochranfirm.com/jackson/
The Cochran Firm Jackson is the Mississippi office of one of the country’s largest and most recognized plaintiff’s litigation firms. Founded on the legacy of Johnnie Cochran and now operating nationally with regional offices across the country, the firm has secured over $35 billion in verdicts, settlements, and judgments for clients including sexual assault survivors, civil rights victims, personal injury plaintiffs, and wrongful death claimants. The Jackson office handles personal injury, civil rights, and sexual assault claims throughout Mississippi, with access to national resources, expert networks, and litigation infrastructure. The Jackson office works closely with The Cochran Firm Mississippi Delta office to extend reach across the state. Free consultation. Contingency fee basis.
Levy Konigsberg LLP (Mississippi Practice)
Website: https://www.levylaw.com
Levy Konigsberg is a national institutional sexual abuse firm that has recovered over $3 billion in compensation for survivors nationally, including survivors in Mississippi. The firm has handled clergy abuse, school abuse, and other institutional misconduct cases across the state and is an active participant in diocese disclosure litigation nationally. Free confidential consultation. Contingency fee basis.
Jeff Anderson & Associates, P.A. (Mississippi Practice)
Address: Primary office: 366 Jackson Street, Suite 100, St. Paul, MN 55101
Phone: (651) 227-9990
Website: https://www.andersonadvocates.com
Jeff Anderson & Associates is the pioneering national institutional child sexual abuse firm that has handled clergy abuse cases in Mississippi including the Diocese of Jackson. In 2006, the Diocese of Jackson agreed to pay over $5.1 million to settle six lawsuits involving 19 survivors of clergy sexual abuse. Jeff Anderson & Associates has been at the forefront of forcing dioceses nationwide to release priest abuse files and has represented thousands of survivors in cases against Catholic institutions, schools, youth organizations, and other institutional defendants. The firm handles cases nationally and accepts Mississippi institutional abuse cases on a contingency basis. Free confidential consultation.
Brown, Bass & Jeter, PLLC
Address: Jackson, MS
Website: https://bbjlawyers.com
Brown, Bass & Jeter is a Jackson civil rights firm that handles civil rights violations including sexual assault claims against public officials, law enforcement, and institutions acting under color of law. The firm represents survivors of assault by government actors including law enforcement officers and government-employed officials, pursuing claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for constitutional violations including excessive force, unlawful detention, and civil assault and battery. Free consultation.
Key Considerations for Mississippi Survivors
Mississippi has one of the strictest civil SOLs in the country. The general three-year period and the age-24 cap for childhood abuse survivors are among the most restrictive in the United States. Act immediately – do not wait.
The discovery rule may save an otherwise expired claim. If you only recently connected the abuse to its psychological or physical effects, the three-year period may not have started yet. This requires expert testimony and legal argument but has been accepted by Mississippi courts. Consult an attorney before concluding your claim is barred.
Assault and battery claims may carry a one-year deadline. Claims specifically framed as assault/battery under Miss. Code Ann. § 15-1-35 may carry a shorter one-year limitations period than general negligence claims. The framing matters and should be evaluated immediately with a lawyer.
No revival window exists in Mississippi. Unlike states that have opened look-back windows for time-barred survivors, Mississippi has not. Survivors whose claims were previously time-barred must rely on tolling arguments rather than legislation.
Criminal prosecution faces no deadline for rape. While the civil window is extremely limited, Mississippi imposes no criminal SOL for rape, meaning law enforcement can prosecute at any time and survivors can report to police regardless of when the abuse occurred.
Institutions can be held liable. Mississippi courts recognize claims against schools, churches, employers, and other organizations for negligent hiring, supervision, and retention that enabled the abuse. These cases often provide the most significant financial recovery.
No conviction required for civil recovery. A civil lawsuit can proceed regardless of whether any criminal charges were filed, regardless of whether prosecution resulted in conviction, and even if the survivor never reported to law enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a civil sexual assault lawsuit in Mississippi?
Adults have three years from the date of the assault under the general personal injury SOL, though claims framed specifically as assault/battery may carry a one-year deadline. Child survivors have three years from age 21, meaning until age 24. The discovery rule may extend these deadlines if you could not reasonably have discovered the connection between the abuse and its effects earlier.
I was abused as a child and am now over 24. Can I still sue?
Possibly. The discovery rule is the primary avenue: if you only recently understood the causal connection between the childhood abuse and your psychological or physical injuries, the three-year period may begin from that discovery. This requires legal analysis. Consult an attorney before concluding your claim is barred.
Can I sue the institution that employed my abuser?
Yes. Mississippi recognizes institutional negligence claims for negligent hiring, supervision, and retention. The Diocese of Jackson paid over $5 million in one set of clergy abuse settlements, demonstrating that institutional recovery is possible in Mississippi.
Does Mississippi have a revival window for time-barred claims?
No. Mississippi has not enacted look-back window legislation. Time-barred claims must rely on tolling arguments under existing law.
Do I need to report to police before filing a civil lawsuit?
No. Civil and criminal cases are entirely separate. You may file a civil claim without ever having reported to police or without any criminal prosecution having occurred.