2015 Mississippi Code
Title 97 - CRIMES
Chapter 35 - CRIMES AGAINST PUBLIC PEACE AND SAFETY
§ 97-35-37 - Vagrants; defined

The following persons are and shall be punished as vagrants, viz.:

(a) Persons known as tramps, wandering or strolling about in idleness, who are able to work and have no property to support them.

(b) Persons leading an idle, immoral or profligate life, who have no property to support them, and who are able to work and do not work.

(c) All persons able to work, having no property to support them, and who have no visible or known means of a fair, honest and reputable livelihood. The term "visible and known means of a fair, honest and reputable livelihood," as used in this section, shall be construed to mean reasonably continuous employment at some lawful occupation for reasonable compensation, or a fixed and regular income from property or other investment, which income is sufficient for the support and maintenance of such person.

(d) All able-bodied persons who habitually loaf, loiter and idle in the cities, towns, and villages, or about steamboat landings or railroad stations or any other public place in the state, for the larger portion of their time, without any regular employment and without any visible means of support. An offense under paragraph (d) of this section shall be made out whenever it is shown that any person has no visible means of support and only occasionally has employment at odd jobs, being for the most of the time out of employment.

(e) Persons trading or bartering stolen property, or who unlawfully sell or barter any vinous, alcoholic, malt, intoxicating or spirituous liquors.

(f) Every common gambler or person who for the most part maintains himself by gambling.

(g) Every able-bodied person who shall go begging for a livelihood.

(h) Every common prostitute.

(i) Every keeper of a house of prostitution.

(j) Every keeper of a house of gambling or gaming.

(k) Every able-bodied person who lives without employment or labor, and who has no visible means of support.

(l) All persons who are able to work and do not work, but hire out their minor children or allow them to be hired out, and live upon their wages.

(m) All persons over sixteen years of age and under twenty-one, able to work and who do not work, and have no property to support them, and have not some known visible means of a fair, honest, and reputable livelihood, and whose parents or those in loco parentis are unable to support them, and who are not in attendance upon some educational institution.