Tipton v. State

DICKINSON, Justice, for the Court:

¶ 1. The defendant — an employee of a private company that (according to Mississippi Law)1 provides an alternative to incarceration services — was indicted and convicted under a statute2 that criminalized certain acts committed by an “employee of any contractor providing incarceration services.” Since the terms “incarceration” and “alternative to incarceration” are mutually exclusive, we reverse and vacate the conviction.

BACKGROUND FACTS AND PROCEEDINGS

¶ 2. Court Programs is a private company that contracts with the City of Guliport to provide probation and…