Contact:
Rabiah Burks, 202-822-6700
rburks@famm.org

FAMM Applauds Missouri Gov. Mike Parson for Signing Sentencing Reform Bill

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Today, Gov. Mike Parson signed HB 192, a sentencing reform bill passed by the Missouri legislature in May. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Bruce DeGroot (R-Chesterfield), prevents convictions for minor and nonviolent crimes from triggering the state’s lengthy mandatory sentences for repeat offenders. The reform is retroactive, making people eligible for parole sooner if they received minimum prison terms before August 28, 2019, the date the law goes into effect.

FAMM Vice President of Policy Molly Gill issued the following statement in response to the bill becoming law:

Today, Missouri joins the ranks of more than 30 other states that have reformed their mandatory sentencing laws. We applaud Gov. Parson for recognizing an over-broad law and taking steps to fix it. We are especially glad to see these reforms made retroactive, because getting a fair punishment shouldn’t depend on something as arbitrary as the day you went to court. We urge the parole board to identify eligible prisoners quickly and promptly give them parole hearings. There are many people who have served enough time and are ready to go home and contribute to our communities again.

Sentencing reform was championed in the Missouri Legislature this year by Reps. Cody Smith (R-Carthage) and Shamed Dogan (R-Ballwin) and Sen. Ed Emery (R-Lamar).

For nearly three decades, FAMM has united the voices of affected families, the formerly incarcerated, and a range of stakeholders and advocates to fight for a more fair and effective justice system. FAMM’s focus on ending a one-size-fits-all punishment structure has led to reforms to sentencing and prison policies in 6 states and is paving the way to programs that support rehabilitation for the 94% of all prisoners who will return to our neighborhoods one day.

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FAMM is a national nonpartisan advocacy organization that promotes fair and effective criminal justice policies that safeguard taxpayer dollars and keep our communities safe. Founded in 1991, FAMM is helping transform America’s criminal justice system by uniting the voices of impacted families and individuals and elevating the issues all across the country.

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