Date: March 5th, 2025
To: Rep. Parker and members of the House Judiciary Committee
From: Gwen Smith, Criminal Justice Policy Manager, Empower Missouri
Re: Our Support for HB 82
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 Justice Coalition with the goal of decreasing recidivism, decreasing the prison population, and decreasing Missouri’s criminal justice costs all while ensuring our communities are safe. Many coalition members are formerly incarcerated or have currently incarcerated loved ones, and all are connected by a vision for a future without mass incarceration.
We support Representative Griffith’s HB 82, which would require each circuit court to establish a treatment court, including a veteran’s court. Treatment courts are an effective method of reducing the number of individuals sent to jail or prison while also providing community-based programming to participants that supports their recovery process or otherwise improves their quality of life. A criminal record carries with it numerous collateral consequences that can make it difficult for an individual to obtain employment, access educational opportunities, and secure safe and stable housing. This bill offers an alternative path for certain individuals who are committed to changing their behavior. It also recognizes the special needs of our veteran population, who often return home with heightened mental health and substance use challenges. Because of these factors, veterans have a higher likelihood of engaging with the criminal justice system than the general public (one third of veterans report an arrest history, compared to one fifth of the U.S. population). Studies point to the effectiveness of veterans’ treatment courts: one study found that court participants were more likely to have improved outcomes in mental health, social functioning, housing, and employment. Another study found that veterans’ court participants had a 14% rate of a new incarceration, compared to up to 46% of defendants in traditional court becoming re-incarcerated.
Treatment courts can significantly decrease recidivism rates, reducing the likelihood that participants will reoffend. A recent study of Texas diversion programs including treatment courts found that defendants without a prior felony conviction who participated had an immediate and dramatic reduction in subsequent offending: the total number of future convictions fell by 75 percent over a 10-year follow-up period, compared to similar defendants who did not receive diversion. This will lead to improved public safety in Missouri communities.
In addition to these benefits, treatment courts can also save states money. Research shows that for every dollar invested in drug treatment, $12 is saved through the reduction of future crime and health care expenses. In 2019, arrest data shows that over 14,000 individuals were arrested for suspicion of drunk driving in Missouri. By addressing the root causes of this crime through community-based treatment, our state can save money while reducing the strain on the criminal legal system.
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