House Democrats partner with Black Caucus on criminal justice overhaul
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Missouri House Democratic Caucus partnered with the Legislative Black Caucus to put forth a comprehensive plan to overhaul the criminal justice system.
On Monday afternoon, the lawmakers outlined the filed legislation they tout as correcting practices that disparately punish the poor, removing obstacles that make it harder for people who’ve served their time to become productive citizens, and ensuring the rights of children are protected in legal proceedings.
The bills include changes to the bail system, fees imposed on indigent defendants, voting rights of those on probation or parole, minors waiving their right to counsel, restitution to those wrongfully convicted, and expungements of past convictions.
“Maintaining a strong criminal justice system means addressing its weaknesses,” said House Minority Leader Crystal Quade. “If we truly want to address crime in our state, we must end counterproductive practices that come down harder on poor defendants and make it more difficult for past offenders to find jobs and contribute to society.”
Read more: https://themissouritimes.com/57315/house-democrats-partner-with-black-caucus-on-criminal-justice-overhaul/