Conversion (theft) is generally the cause of action/claim for which a party whose property has been stolen may file a civil lawsuit to recover the stolen property or its value. Theft is also prosecuted as a crime, but the object of a criminal prosecution is generally to punish the wrongdoer, rather than to seek recovery of the lost property.
In Mississippi, conversion is a civil cause of action that allows a person whose property has been wrongfully taken or retained to seek recovery of their property or its monetary value from the party responsible for the conversion. This is distinct from theft, which is prosecuted as a crime under Mississippi law. The criminal prosecution of theft aims to punish the offender and is handled by the state. The penalties for theft, which may include fines and imprisonment, are outlined in the Mississippi Code. Victims of theft may pursue a civil action for conversion independently of any criminal proceedings to seek compensation for their losses. It is important for victims to note that the burden of proof is different in civil cases, where they must establish their claim by a preponderance of the evidence, as opposed to the criminal standard of beyond a reasonable doubt.