Bribery is the offering, giving, soliciting, or receiving of something of value in order to influence the actions of a person who holds a public or legal duty (often someone in public office or government). To prove the crime of bribery, the prosecution must demonstrate that there was a quid pro quo exchange in which the recipient (public official) changed or altered his behavior in exchange for the gift (bribe). The quid pro quo relationship between the gift given and the action taken must be clear and direct. For this reason, campaign donations to political candidates generally do not constitute bribery.
In Mississippi, bribery is addressed under the Mississippi Code Section 97-11-11 and other relevant statutes. These laws define bribery as the act of offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting anything of value to influence the actions of a public official or any person in a public or legal duty. The state law requires proof of a quid pro quo arrangement, meaning there must be a clear and direct exchange where the public official's actions are influenced by the bribe. This exchange must be proven for a conviction of bribery. It is important to note that campaign contributions are not considered bribery under Mississippi law as long as they comply with the relevant campaign finance regulations and there is no explicit agreement that the contribution is made in exchange for a specific official action.