Working to End Child Abuse in Mississippi

Lynn Fitch, Attorney General

The General Insider Volume 143 - April 4th, 2026

On Thursday, we joined the Children's Advocacy Centers of Mississippi (CACM) and the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services, recognizing April as Child Abuse Prevention Month and touring CACM's Child Advocacy Training Institute, which provides hands-on training for students and professionals to recognize, react, and respond appropriately in situations where child abuse may be present.

Its simulation-based training equips frontline workers for the worst, so they are prepared to be their best for a child in need. We are grateful for the leadership that the Children's Advocacy Centers of Mississippi and the Department of Child Protection Services have demonstrated throughout our partnership.

Protecting Children Online

This week, the Attorney General's Office and the Children's Advocacy Centers of Mississippi (CACM) unveiled new resources for parents to use to protect their children, offering tips for safe online gaming. This is the third in a series of resource cards created by the Attorney General's Office and CACM to help end child abuse and exploitation.

The Attorney General's Office has developed other resources to help keep children safe online as part of the #BeAwareBeforeYouShare initiative, a campaign to raise awareness of social media's dangerous impact on children's mental and physical well-being.

Fentanyl Strike Forces: Keeping Our Communities Safe

We recently announced the completion of Operation Check Mate, led by our Fentanyl Strike Force. The operation resulted in 20 felony arrests, 10 misdemeanor arrests, one DUI, 156 traffic citations, and the execution of a search warrant. Law enforcement seized four firearms, marijuana, methamphetamine, MDMA pills, crack cocaine, suspected fentanyl powder, $7,368.00 in illicit proceeds, and 40 illegal gambling devices.

Fighting the fentanyl epidemic cannot be done without cooperation. It takes all of us. Our office is committed to building a network of law enforcement across the state with the tools and knowledge to disrupt drug operations and successfully prosecute these criminals. Together, we can get these dangerous criminals out of our communities and drugs off our streets

Welcoming William Carey University as a Partner in the Fight Against Fentanyl

Last week, the Attorney General's Office welcomed William Carey University as the latest partner to join One Pill Can Kill, our awareness campaign to educate, support, and empower Mississippians with information on the dangers of fentanyl, how to identify it, and what to do if a student or friend is overdosing.

With counterfeit pills becoming increasingly common in Mississippi, it is time that we step up, be bold, and demand action in this fight against fentanyl. We are grateful for William Carey University's willingness to partner with us to educate and protect students.

Changing the Laws to Help Children and Human Trafficking Victims

As the 2026 Legislative Session draws to a close, three bills from our legislative agenda have already been signed into law. Together, they demonstrate our commitment to caring for and protecting our most vulnerable, and I am grateful to the Legislature for being such a strong partner on these Attorney General's Office Priorities.

Two of the new laws address human trafficking. HB 1131 increases the penalties on the buyers in the illicit human trafficking market. Without demand, human trafficking cannot exist, so this is an important step in disrupting this criminal industry. HB 1546 allows victims to expunge non-violent crimes from their records, clearing a pathway to a better future.

SB 2369 ensures that if a parent wins at a casino and owes child support, that support will be paid first. This legislation is a crucial step in strengthening child support enforcement and making sure children come first.

Protecting Mississippi from Theft

Last month, pursuant to an investigation and prosecution by our office, Pamela Latrice McNutt was sentenced for embezzlement. She stole nearly $150,000 in funds from the City of Marks while employed as the city clerk. McNutt was sentenced to serve 12 years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections, with three years to serve on the Intensive Supervision Program, nine years suspended, five years of supervised probation, and four years of unsupervised probation. She was ordered to pay $98,428.68 in restitution, forfeit her $50,000 security bond, pay $1,000.00 in fines, and a $500.00 assessment to the Crime Victim Compensation fund.

Joining The Sit Down with Russ Latino

It was great to join Russ Latino and Mississippi Public Broadcasting for The Sit Down. I appreciated the opportunity to catch up and share the incredible work we are doing at the Mississippi Attorney General's Office, especially on our work to protect Mississippi's children. If you missed the conversation, listen here.

May God bless you,

Lynn Fitch

Read Lynn Fitch's original newsletter here.