Special Committee on Criminal Justice Hears Bills

This year, a special Committee on Criminal Justice was appointed by the Speaker of the House to address bills that could impact the overpopulation of prisons. On Thursday, two bills were heard by the committee that would do just that. HB 113, sponsored by Cody Smith (R-Carthage), would give judges the discretion to deviate from mandatory minimum sentencing if certain requirements were met. They stated that this bill could help prevent young offenders from going to prison.  

Another bill heard by the committee was HB 352, sponsored by Rep. Tom Hannegan (R-St. Charles). This bill would grant a parole hearing to a "targeted" group of offenders who were sentenced to life plus 50 years, as this law is no longer in effect in Missouri. Approximately 80-100 offenders could benefit from the legislation. The MCC testified in support of both bills. The committee took no action on the bills.