Bill > HB597

This bill requires the Board on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Training (BLESOT) to implement mandatory constitutional education for law enforcement officers in Mississippi. Specifically, the bill mandates that all accredited law enforcement training academies provide at least eight hours of education on the Mississippi Constitution of 1890 and the United States Constitution during initial officer certification, and an additional two hours in ongoing continuing education programs. The constitutional training aims to help officers understand their policing authority within constitutional boundaries, focusing on key amendments like the Fourth (search and seizure), Fifth (due process), Sixth (right to trial), Eighth (prohibition of cruel punishment), and Fourteenth (equal protection) amendments. By requiring this training, the bill seeks to ensure that law enforcement officers are well-versed in constitutional principles, which will help promote fair, impartial, and effective policing that respects citizens' rights and aligns with democratic values. The bill will take effect on July 1, 2025, giving law enforcement training academies time to develop and implement the new curriculum requirements.

Justice

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2025/pdf/history/HB/HB0597.xml