Title: In Interest of TDB
Citation: 446 So. 2d 598
Docket Number: 54772
State: Mississippi
Issuer: Mississippi Supreme Court
Date: March 7, 1984

446 So. 2d 598 (1984) In the Interest of T.D.B., a Minor Child. No. 54772. Supreme Court of Mississippi. March 7, 1984. Jim W. Rose, Rose &amp; Woodfield, Gulfport, for appellant. No brief filed for appellee. Before ROY NOBLE LEE, P.J., PRATHER and SULLIVAN, JJ. ROY NOBLE LEE, Presiding Justice, for the Court: This is an appeal from the Family Court of Harrison County, Honorable Michael H. Ward, presiding, by T.D.B., a minor, who was adjudicated to be delinquent and was committed to the custody of the Miss. Dept. of Youth Services for placement at an appropriate state training school. The lower court found T.D.B. was delinquent after hearing a petition alleging that she burned a school building and possessed one ounce of marijuana. Appellant admitted the allegations of the petition, viz, that she started the fire from toilet tissue in the school washroom upon a "dare" from three other students. However, the record indicates she immediately summoned help and the fire was extinguished with little damage. Thirteen witnesses testified for appellant, including Dr. Thomas William Howard, a clinical psychologist, and members of the sheriff's department. *599 The evidence reflects that appellant was mentally retarded to a degree; that family therapy would be the best approach to her problem; and that it would not be for her best interest to be confined in a juvenile training school. The lower court was of the opinion that The lower court was of the opinion that under Mississippi Code Annotated § 97-17-3 (1972) it had no alternative except to sentence appellant to at least six (6) months confinement at the training school.[1] However, the court granted an appeal with supersedeas to this Court. Section 97-17-3 provides the following: The above section was amended by Chapter 256, 1958 Miss. Laws, to add Subsection (3), which provides for at least six months' confinement without probation of a juvenile who was found guilty under Subsection (1). The Youth Court Act was amended by Chapter 506, 1979 Miss. Laws, and Chapter 550, 1980 Miss. Laws, and is now known as the "Youth Court Law," coverning Mississippi Code Annotated §§ 43-21-101 through XX-XX-XXX (1972). That law grants broad powers to the Youth Court and the Family Court. Mississippi Code Annotated § 43-21-605 (1972) provides great authority and wide discretion to those courts in delinquency cases and disposition orders. The appellant contends that the lower court committed two errors in its judgment: We will address only the first assignment of error, since the record does not indicate that the appellant comes within Section 43-27-25, and because the lower court committed appellant to the custody of the Mississippi Department of Youth Services for placement at an appropriate state training school under the impression that Section 97-17-3(3) required him to do so. Appellant argues that the Youth Court Law repeals by implication Section 97-17-3(3), and cites Jackson Municipal Airport Authority v. Shivers, 206 So. 2d 190 (Miss. 1968), and Ascher &amp; Baxter v. Edward Moyse &amp; Co., 101 Miss. 36, 57 So. 299 (1911). In Ascher, the Court said: Gulley v. Lumbermen's Mut. Casualty Co., 176 Miss. 388, 166 So. 541 (1936), involved liability for privilege taxes authorized by a generally-worded statute. The Court quoted from State, ex rel. Knox v. Wyoming Mfg. Co., 138 Miss. 149, 103 So. 11 (1924) as follows: Section 97-17-3 makes arson a violation of the law punishable by imprisonment in the state penitentiary from two (2) to twenty (20) years. Subsection (3) provides that a juvenile, who is found guilty under Subsection (1) shall not be eligible for probation until the juvenile has served at least six (6) months confinement in a state reform school. Section 97-17-3 is enforced by indictment and trial in the circuit court. If the state succeeds in the prosecution, the accused is found guilty by a jury. Persons who, by reason of their age, come under the jurisdiction of juvenile authorities, and have violated the law, are not found guilty, but are adjudged delinquent. The Youth Court Law provides exclusive original jurisdiction in the Youth Court for matters concerning delinquent children.[2] It further provides for a disposition hearing procedure and disposition alternatives in delinquency cases. We think that the Youth Court Law enacted in 1979 and amended in 1980 was clearly intended to set forth procedures and rules for the disposition of youths adjudicated to be delinquent, and clearly supersedes Section 97-17-3(3). Therefore, we hold that the lower court was authorized to proceed under Section 43-21-605 which sets forth the disposition alternatives in delinquency cases. The judgment of the lower court is vacated, and this cause is remanded to it for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. REVERSED AND REMANDED. PATTERSON, C.J., WALKER, P.J., and BOWLING, HAWKINS, DAN M. LEE, PRATHER, ROBERTSON and SULLIVAN, JJ., concur. [1] The lower court, in its finding, stated that it would be the order of that court for the minor child to stand committed to the custody of the Mississippi Department of Youth Services for placement at an appropriate state training school for a period of not less than six months. However, the order following that finding stated: "Finds that T.D.B. should be committed to the custody of the Miss. Dept. of Youth Services for placement at an appropriate state training school." [2] There are exceptions where the circuit court has jurisdiction.