Criminal Justice (Probation & Parole)

HB 1712 makes it a crime for individuals under electronic monitoring (such as probation or parole) to intentionally remove, alter, damage, or disable their monitoring device. It classifies most tampering as a class D felony, while failing to charge or disable the device is a class E felony (or a misdemeanor if the original offense was a misdemeanor). The bill explicitly excludes owners or agents performing routine maintenance from these penalties. This law directly affects people on electronic monitoring supervision, imposing new criminal consequences for interfering with their monitoring equipment.

HB 1688 changes Missouri law to set life imprisonment or death as the maximum penalty for several sexual offenses, including rape in the first and second degrees, sexual abuse, enticement of a child, and trafficking for slavery or sexual exploitation. Key provisions remove probation or suspended sentences for specific cases, such as when a child under 12 is the victim of rape in the first degree, and update definitions of related crimes. This bill directly affects individuals convicted of these offenses in Missouri by altering the potential sentences they may face.

HB 2348 changes the trial process for first-degree murder cases where the death penalty is not waived. It requires a two-stage trial: first, a jury or judge decides guilt (without considering punishment), and second, if convicted, they determine punishment based on specific legal standards. The bill mandates life imprisonment without parole if the jury finds the defendant intellectually disabled, lacks sufficient aggravating factors, or determines mitigating evidence outweighs aggravating factors. It also clarifies jury instructions for cases where punishment is disputed, including procedures if the jury cannot agree on a sentence. This applies only to offenses committed on or after August 28, 2001.