Missouri Sentencing Coalition Applauds Passage of Criminal Justice Reform Measures – New Legislation Will Reduce Prison Sentencing for Nonviolent Offenders
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 14, 2019 For More Information: Sara Baker, 314-809-0658 Jeremy Cady, 417-597-3838 Jeanette Mott Oxford, 314-775-3261 Jefferson City – Yesterday, the Missouri Legislature approved HB 192, a proposal that would reform Missouri sentencing law and allow eligible individuals to have earlier parole hearings. HB 192 requires the parole board to evaluate those currently serving...Read More
Reformed theologian and ethicist Reinhold Niebuhr (born in Wright City, MO in 1892) began sharing a prayer in 1934 that was published in this form in 1951: ….give me grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, Courage to change the things which should be changed, and the Wisdom to distinguish the...Read More
Friday, May 10th 8am-9am Conference Call # & Passcode: (515) 603-3103; 167856# Shelly Graf is the Quality Assurance Coordinator for the Division of Probation and Parole. She has worked for the Department of Corrections for 24 years holding positions in Division of Adult Institutions, Division of Human Services and Probation and Parole. She has been an...Read More
The House Committee Substitute (HCS) of House Bills 167 & 166 was debated on the House floor on Tuesday afternoon. You know from our Weekly Perspective and Call to Action last Friday that the version voted out of committee needed some significant improvements. The floor debate was an opportunity to hear several amendments offered, get...Read More
It has been clear to criminal justice advocates in Empower Missouri’s network for some time that poverty has been criminalized. Among the ways we have drawn attention to this topic were an April 2017 forum and a special Media Award to Tony Messenger in May 2018 for his series on policies that create debtors’ prisons,...Read More
I really couldn’t have imagined the hearing going any better. The room was packed, standing-room-only in the gallery, nearly every one of the 19 (!) committee members were present. A Republican from the rural bootheel sat next to a Democrat from the big city of St. Louis, and together Reps. Holly Rehder and Tracy McCreery...Read More
While crime has dropped across the nation and also in Missouri, our state is one of only eight states in which the prison population has been growing. In fact, we rank #3, and we have been in a nip-and-tuck race with Kentucky to take home the coveted (NOT!) prize for most women being incarcerated. How...Read More
January 11, 2019 Dear Advocate, What does it take to pass improved public policy in Missouri, including reforming old laws that were ill-conceived that have been harming the quality of our common life? It is a lot like gardening. We must be persistent in researching what kinds of seeds can work on our particular piece of...Read More
Saint Louis University Cross-Cultural Center, Empower Missouri, and the MO HIV Justice Coalition present: HIV is Not a Crime Featuring Rep. Rehder (R) & Rep. McCreery (D) Moderated by Sidney Watson Change the Law, End the Stigma. January 18, 2019 | 6:00 PM Anheuser-Busch Auditorium, Cook Hall, Chaifetz School of Business, Saint Louis University, 3674 Lindell...Read More
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