Testimony in Support of HB 774, HB 603, and HB 729 – Department of Corrections Oversight

Date: April 2, 2025
To: Chairman Mayhew and Members, Corrections and Public Institutions Committee
From: Jerika White, Criminal Justice Policy Manager, Empower Missouri
Re: Support for HB 774, 603, 729

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 its inception, Empower Missouri has prioritized addressing the criminal justice system and its impacts, advocating for stronger Department of Corrections (DOC) oversight and a more effective accountability system.

I am testifying on behalf of Empower Missouri to support HB 774 by Rep. Bill Allen, HB 603 by Rep. Bill Lucas, and HB 729 by Rep. Kim Collins. These bills would establish an Office of State Ombudsman within the Department of Corrections. The Office will provide information to those who are incarcerated, monitor prison conditions for the purpose of helping to ensure the adequacy of care received by those who are incarcerated, improve the quality of life experienced by them, and establish a state-wide reporting system to collect data. These bills will also increase transparency and accountability in the Missouri state prison system and help all those impacted by this system. 

It is important to have external accountability for any institution that is tasked with providing services for the public. The correctional department provides the day-to-day needs of people who are incarcerated however we do not have the accountability foundation. An independent oversight system is necessary to help root out the abuse and overall corruption that occurs within the prison system. Most importantly, it is there to protect the well-being of all those who live and work inside of state prisons. This is a definite need, especially in our state, as Missouri prisons have a long legacy of abuse, harassment, and medical negligence, coupled with a pattern of misinformation regarding deaths in custody. 

In Missouri, there are well over 23,000 residents living in the 19+ facilities across the state. Severe staffing shortages in recent years have made existing problems more frequent, and the number of in-custody deaths hit a record high in 2024 with 139 deaths total. Othel Moore Jr.’s family made his final cries for help publicly viewable by releasing the footage of his murder, and it was gut-wrenching to watch the overall neglect and actions of the DOC. Many more are experiencing similar conditions, and both residents and workers are at risk of being victimized by failures within the system.

The Missouri Department of Corrections has an 830-million-dollar budget in 2025. To date, Missouri has paid over $75 million in lawsuit settlements and verdicts since 2020. These costs are being borne by MO taxpayers and residents. Our research found that the range of settlements varied from hostile work environments, numerous sexual assaults, employee discrimination, and overall poor conditions within the facilities. Both past department employees and formerly incarcerated individuals have sought lawsuits against the state for these reasons. 

In the fiscal note it states that the general revenue will be over $500,000. The DOC is already spending more than that with the ongoing lawsuits and monthly expenses within the facilities. As taxpayers, it is important to know where our tax dollars are being spent. Many Missouri residents and families of both correctional workers and residents are left in the unknown about what occurs within the DOC facilities. In conclusion, having independent oversight will provide the transparency necessary to move forward. Oversight alone will not fix the entrenched issues, but it will provide steps towards creating the accountability system necessary for residents within the facilities, correctional staff, their families, and the community. For these reasons, I encourage the committee to support and vote Yes on HB 774, 603 and 729.