Violent habitual offender; require both previous crimes to have been crimes of violence.

SB 2223 would amend Mississippi law to require that both prior felony convictions for an offender must have been violent crimes, as defined by state law, to qualify for a mandatory life sentence without parole. This applies to individuals convicted of a new felony who have two prior felony convictions (each from separate incidents, each resulting in at least one year of imprisonment, and both classified as violent crimes). Under the bill, such offenders would face a life sentence with no possibility of parole, probation, or early release, replacing the current standard that may have allowed one non-violent prior conviction. The bill was introduced in 2026 but died in committee without becoming law.