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A bill adding domestic violence as grounds for divorce in Mississippi died was rejected in the state legislature. Photo: Ken Lund | FlickrCC. |
Domestic violence is not grounds for divorce in Mississippi. A married person can claim some other reasons for divorce, such as impotence, adultery, bigamy, and incurable mental illness. She cannot claim domestic violence as grounds for divorces. This lack of choice uses the law as a cudgel and forces survivors of that violence to stay with their abusive partners. The bad news for victims of violence is that this law won’t change soon.
A recent bill, which made it’s way through the state Senate, died in the House after amendments added two years separation as grounds for divorce as well. That was apparently egregious enough to kill the bill while still in conference, though it’s unclear exactly why that would be the case.
Statistics reveal that 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men face domestic violence, defined as physical abuse by an intimate partner. It can be difficult to pursue legal action against those partners. In more progressive states, people can at least file for divorce on those grounds and find a legal option that will help them to escape from the abuse they face.
In Mississippi though, unless they can prove some other reasons they’re stuck, and while they may be able to get away from their abusive partner, it is unlikely that their abuser won’t use their married status against them.
The senator who introduced the bill, Republican Sally Doty, is disappointed in the bill’s failure but plans to re-introduce it in the next congressional session. She has said she will work harder to prevent amendments and changes that might make it harder for the bill to make it to the governor’s desk.
Though it is unclear why the amendment added had that effect, it is not uncommon for riders to be attached to bills with the express purpose of preventing their passage, in this case without even a vote in the House, both at the federal and state levels.
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