Date: January 31st, 2024To: Representative Rudy Viet, Chairman, and Members of the House Committee on Corrections and Public InstitutionsFrom: Gwen Smith, Criminal Justice Policy Manager, Empower MissouriRE: Support for HB 2502 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...Read More

Date: January 31st, 2024To: Representative Rudy Viet, Chairman, and Members of the House Committee on Corrections and Public InstitutionsFrom: Gwen Smith, Criminal Justice Policy Manager, Empower MissouriRE: Support for HB 1777 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...Read More

Date: January 29th, 2024 To: Chairman Luetkemeyer and Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee From: Mallory Rusch, Executive Director, Empower Missouri RE: Our opposition to SB 1115 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...Read More

Date: January 29th, 2024 To: Sen. Leutkemeyer, Chairman, and Members of the Senate Judiciary and Civil and  Criminal Jurisprudence Committee From: Gwen Smith, Criminal Justice Policy Manager, Empower Missouri RE: Support for SB 1098 Founded in 1901, Empower Missouri advocates for the well-being of Missourians through civic leadership, education, and research. As part of our...Read More

Date: January 24th, 2024 To: Representative Rudy Viet, Chairman, and Members of the House Committee on Corrections and Public Institutions From: Gwen Smith, Criminal Justice Policy Manager, Empower Missouri RE: Support for HB 2203 As the largest and oldest anti-poverty non-profit in our state, Empower Missouri is committed to improving the quality of life for...Read More

Date: January 24, 2024 To: Chairman David Evans and Members of the Judiciary Committee  From: Gwen Smith, Criminal Justice Policy Manager, Empower Missouri RE: Support for HB 1927 and Restoring Voting Rights Empower Missouri has been committed for over 120 years to improving the quality of life for all Missouri residents through advocacy and policy...Read More

Date: January 23, 2024 To: Chairman Hovis and Members, House Pensions Committee From: Gwen Smith, Criminal Justice Policy Manager, Empower Missouri RE: HJR 92 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...Read More

For the past two years, Empower Missouri has been spearheading research into the practice of private probation in Missouri, to better understand its scope and implications for policy reform. Missouri is one of 12 states to utilize the controversial practice of private probation. Private probation is used in some counties to outsource supervision for misdemeanor...Read More

Date: January 22nd, 2024 To: Senator Tony Luetkemeyer, Chairman, and Members of the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence From: Gwen Smith-Moore, Criminal Justice Policy Manager, Empower Missouri Re: Support for SB 765 As the largest and oldest anti-poverty non-profit in our state, Empower Missouri is committed to improving the quality of...Read More

Date: January 22nd, 2024 To: Senator Tony Luetkemeyer, Chairman, and Members of the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence From: Gwen Smith-Moore, Criminal Justice Policy Manager, Empower Missouri 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...Read More