Criminal Justice Testimony Archives

Testimony in Opposition to SB 44 and HB 495 – State Control of the SLMPD and Expanded Definition of Rioting

Date: January 22, 2025 To: Chairman Myers and Members of the House Committee on Crime and Public Safety From: Mallory Rusch, Executive Director, Empower Missouri…

Testimony in Support of SB 50 – Capping Jail Phone Call Costs

Date: January 21, 2025 To: Chairman Black and Members, Senate Local Government, Elections and Pensions From: Mallory Rusch, Executive Director, Empower Missouri Re: Our support…

Testimony – Our Support for Re-envisioning the Workhouse

Date: April 4th, 2024To: Chair Narayan, and members of the Public Safety Committee - City of St. LouisFrom: Eric Reiter, Community Justice Practicum Intern, Empower…

Testimony in Support of HB 2468 – Closing the Judicial Loophole for the Death Penalty

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…

Testimony in Support of Clean Slate Legislation to Automate the Expungement Process

As the largest and oldest anti-poverty advocacy agency in our state, Empower Missouri is committed to improving the quality of life for all Missouri residents…

Testimony in Opposition to SB 951 – Expanding the Use of the Death Penalty

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…

Testimony in Support of SB 1370 – Creating Mental Health Treatment Courts

Date: February 26, 2024To: Sen. Tony Leutkemeyer, and members of the Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence CommitteeFrom: Gwen Smith, Criminal Justice Policy Manager,…

Testimony in Opposition to HB 1655

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…

Testimony in Opposition to HB 1693 – Creating the Offense of Using a Minor to Commit a Crime

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…

Testimony in Support of HB 1545 – Reducing Minimum Prison Terms for People with Disabilities

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…