Accountability Behind the Walls Here in Missouri, more than 24,000 people are incarcerated in the facilities across the state. The Department of Corrections (DOC) carries the responsibility of maintaining safety, rehabilitation, and ensuring lawful conditions. Independent oversight is necessary to ensure these responsibilities are met. Transparency and accountability are not optional in a system entrusted...Read More

Date:   March 10, 2026 To:     Chairman Mayhew and Members, Corrections and Public Institutions Committee From:   Gwen Smith-Moore, Criminal Justice Policy Manager, Empower Missouri RE:      Oppose SB 888 As the largest and oldest anti-poverty non-profit in our state, Empower Missouri is committed to improving the quality of life for all...Read More

Date:   March 9, 2026 To:     Chairman Mayhew and Members, Corrections and Public Institutions Committee From:  Jerika White, Criminal Justice Policy Manager, Empower Missouri RE:      Support HB 2153 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...Read More

SB 888 passed the Missouri Senate in the middle of the night last Wednesday. This bill would make significant changes to both our state’s sentencing structure and certain processes for youth in custody, leading to more people in prison for longer. The legislature’s non-partisan experts estimate that this will result in $25 million dollars more...Read More

Date:   February 26, 2026 To:       Chairman Mayhew and Members, Corrections and Public Institutions Committee From:   Jerika White, Criminal Justice Policy Manager, Empower Missouri RE:      Support HB 1616 and HB 2832  As the largest and oldest anti-poverty non-profit in our state, Empower Missouri is committed to improving the quality...Read More

Date:    February 25, 2026 To:       Chairman Schroer and Members, Senate Judiciary Committee From:   Jerika White, Criminal Justice Policy Manager, Empower Missouri RE:      SB 1509 As the largest and oldest anti-poverty non-profit in our state, Empower Missouri is committed to improving the quality of life for all Missourians through...Read More

Date: February 18, 2026 To: Chairman Schroer and Members, Senate Judiciary Committee From: Mallory Rusch, Executive Director, Empower Missouri As the largest and oldest anti-poverty advocacy organization 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 the...Read More

Date: February 18, 2026 To: Chairman Schroer and Members, Senate Judiciary Committee From: Mallory Rusch, Executive Director  Re: SB 854 and SB 1494 We are thrilled to offer testimony in support of SB 854 and SB 1494. Our nation’s criminal justice system was conceived and implemented long before the internet became an integral component of...Read More

February 2, 2026 To: Chairman Don Mayhew and Members of the Corrections and Public Institutions Committee From: Gwen Smith-Moore, Empower Missouri  RE: Support for HB 2592 & HB 2834 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...Read More

The Charles Ellwood Graduate Fellowship program, named for one of Empower Missouri’s founders and earliest Presidents, will offer 1-2 recent graduates a fully immersive, year-long, paid fellowship to gain valuable experience in policy research, community education and organizing, and advocacy communications.  KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Research & Policy Support Conduct research on nonprofit organizations, legislative issues, and...Read More