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

Date: January 18th, 2024 To: Chairman Roberts and Members, House Crime Prevention & Public Safety Committee From: Mallory Rusch, Executive Director at Empower Missouri Re: HB 1659 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...Read More

Date: January 17th, 2024 To: Chairman Luetkemeyer and Members, Senate Judiciary & Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence From: Mallory Rusch, Executive Director at Empower Missouri Re: SB 746 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...Read More

Date: January 16th, 2024 To: Senator Travis Fitzwater, Chair, and Members, Senate Transportation, Infrastructure & Public Safety From: Mallory Rusch, Executive Director at Empower Missouri Re: Our opposition to SB 808 On behalf of the staff, board, and statewide Criminal Justice Coalition convened by Empower Missouri, I am here today to oppose SB 808. I...Read More

It seems hard to believe that we’re only a month away from the start of a new year, and a new legislative session. Pre-filing opens for the Missouri legislature today, a process where legislators from both chambers can begin filing their bills ahead of the 2024 session. Bills that are filed on December 1st are...Read More

Hello!  My name is Eric and I am extremely excited to be joining the Empower Missouri team as the Community Justice Intern. In this role, I will support the Criminal Justice Policy Manager in achieving goals set forth for the Community Justice Coalition, Clean Slate Initiative, and other policy priorities regarding community justice in Missouri. ...Read More