By
Gwen Smith-Moore

Missouri is one of only a handful of states that still regularly executes its citizens. On April 9th of this year, Missouri carried out its first execution of 2024, killing Brian Dorsey despite a clemency campaign that had unprecedented support from correctional officers and a former prison warden. Although the death penalty is still legal...
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Date: March 26, 2024To: Representative Alex Riley, and members of the House General Laws CommitteeFrom: Gwen Smith, Criminal Justice Policy Manager, Empower MissouriRe: Our support for HB 2468 Founded in 1901, Empower Missouri advocates for the well-being of Missourians through civic leadership, education, and research. As part of our work, we organize a statewide Community...
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Date: March 11, 2024To: Chairman Luetkemeyer and Members, Senate Judiciary CommitteeFrom: Gwen Smith, Criminal Justice Policy Manager, Empower MissouriRe: SB 951 As the largest and oldest anti-poverty non-profit in our state, Empower Missouri is committed to improving the quality of life for all Missouri residents through advocacy. Since our inception, Empower Missouri has focused on...
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There are many ways in which the anti-poverty issues that Empower Missouri works on intersect. Repealing the SNAP ban for people with past drug felony convictions has been a core advocacy issue for the Food Security Coalition and Community Justice Coalition for many years, and we are excited to report on some major bill movements...
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Date: February 21, 2024To: Chairman Evans and Members, House Judiciary CommitteeFrom: Gwen Smith, Criminal Justice Policy Manager, Empower MissouriRe: HB 1655 As the largest and oldest anti-poverty non-profit in our state, Empower Missouri is committed to improving the quality of life for all Missouri residents through advocacy. Since our inception, Empower Missouri has focused on...
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Date: February 21, 2024To: Chairman Evans and Members, House Judiciary CommitteeFrom: Gwen Smith, Criminal Justice Policy Manager, Empower MissouriRe: HB 1693 As the largest and oldest anti-poverty non-profit in our state, Empower Missouri is committed to improving the quality of life for all Missouri residents through advocacy. Since our inception, Empower Missouri has focused on...
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Date: February 22, 2024To: Chairman Lane Roberts and Members of the House Crime Prevention and Public Safety CommitteeFrom: Gwen Smith, Criminal Justice Policy Manager, Empower MissouriRe: Support for HB 1545 Empower Missouri has been committed for over 120 years to improving the quality of life for all Missouri residents through advocacy and policy change. Since...
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Date: February 21st, 2024To: Chairman Viet, and Members of the House Corrections and Public Institutions CommitteeFrom: Gwen Smith, Criminal Justice Policy Manager, Empower MissouriRe: Our support for HB 2169 and HB 1679 Founded in 1901, Empower Missouri advocates for the well-being of Missourians through civic leadership, education, and research. As part of our work, we...
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Date: February 20th, 2024To: Representative Hannah Kelley, Chairwoman, and Members of the House Committee on Children and FamiliesFrom: Gwen Smith, Criminal Justice Policy Manager, Empower MissouriRe: Support for HB 1996 As the largest and oldest anti-poverty non-profit in our state, Empower Missouri is committed to improving the quality of life for all Missouri residents through...
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Date: February 12th, 2024To: Chairman Schnelting and Members, House Special Committee on Homeland SecurityFrom: Gwen Smith, Criminal Justice Policy Manager, and Mallory Rusch, Executive DirectorRE: HB 2470 As the largest and oldest anti-poverty non-profit in our state, Empower Missouri is committed to improving the quality of life for all Missouri residents through advocacy. Since our...
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