The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides that a person accused of a crime has the right to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation, and states that:

“In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.”

In Mississippi, the Sixth Amendment rights are upheld and integrated into the state's legal procedures. This means that individuals accused of a crime in Mississippi are entitled to be promptly informed of the charges against them. They have the right to a speedy and public trial, which must be conducted by an impartial jury that is representative of the state and the specific district where the crime occurred. The district must be established by law prior to the offense. Defendants also have the right to confront and cross-examine the witnesses against them, to subpoena witnesses in their defense, and to have the assistance of an attorney. If a defendant cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed by the court at no cost to the defendant, as per the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Gideon v. Wainwright. Mississippi's court rules and procedures are designed to ensure that these constitutional protections are afforded to all individuals facing criminal prosecution.