Criminal Justice (Courts)

in committee · Missouri · House Feb 23, 2026

HB 1687: Establishes provisions relating to the administration of surgical castration for certain sexual offenders

HB 1687 is a proposed bill that would allow courts to sentence certain sexual offenders to surgical castration as an additional penalty. It applies to individuals convicted of specific aggravated sexual offenses against victims under 13 years old (occurring on or after August 28, 2026), excluding some sexual abuse charges. The court must first obtain a medical expert's determination that the procedure is appropriate, and the surgery must be performed by a licensed physician in a correctional facility no later than one week before the offender's release. Refusing the procedure could result in an additional 3-5 years in prison, but the bill exempts offenders under 17 and does not require castration if medically inappropriate. The bill is currently in early legislative stages (prefiled, read first/second time).

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates surgical castration as additional penalty for specific sexual offenses, expanding punitive measures beyond standard sentencing per bill's provisions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts

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in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HB 1931: Prohibits arrest warrant information from being accessible on an electronic case management system until the warrant is executed

HB 1931 requires arrest warrants issued for crimes in Missouri to remain private in electronic court systems until the arrest is actually made. This affects law enforcement agencies and courts that use digital case management tools, preventing public or unauthorized access to warrant details before an arrest occurs. The bill amends Missouri law (RSMo § 544.076) to ensure warrant information is not visible online until execution, overriding conflicting court rules about case record access. It directly changes how warrant data is handled in Missouri’s electronic systems, focusing on confidentiality during the pre-arrest phase.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts premature public access to warrant details, protecting individual privacy in criminal procedure per bill's amendment to RSMo § 544.076.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRestricts public access to arrest warrant data in digital systems, enhancing data privacy protections per bill's mandate to keep warrant details private until execution.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement

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in committee · Missouri · Senate Mar 4, 2026

SB 1189: Modifies provisions relating to juvenile detention centers

SB 1189 modifies Missouri's laws governing juvenile detention centers, requiring counties to provide separate facilities for minors that prevent contact with adult inmates. It establishes new rules for counties to coordinate shared detention facilities across multiple counties within judicial circuits, with costs prorated based on population. The bill allows counties to impose an additional up to 1% sales tax to fund these facilities, while mandating that detention centers must provide care resembling "good homes" and be overseen by a superintendent appointed by the juvenile court. This directly affects counties (especially third and fourth class), juvenile courts, and children in detention.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly authorizes counties to impose up to 1% additional sales tax to fund juvenile detention centers, directly linking taxation to government spending for a specific program.90% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires separate juvenile facilities from adults to prevent negative influences, aligning with rehabilitation-focused criminal justice reform by improving youth care and reducing recidivism risks.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Courts Judges Juvenile Justice

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in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HB 2343: Establishes the "Task Force on Juvenile Justice and Education"

HB 2343 creates a task force to study and improve educational access for youth in Missouri's juvenile justice system. The task force, composed of legislative members, state officials, and a juvenile court judge, will examine current education practices, gather input from agencies and organizations, and recommend statewide policy changes by December 31, 2026. It directly affects adjudicated youth by focusing on ensuring they receive consistent, appropriate education services. The bill does not enact new laws but establishes a study process to inform future policy.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates task force to improve education access for youth in juvenile justice system, directly advancing reform to reduce recidivism and enhance rehabilitation within criminal justice.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates task force to improve educational access for juvenile justice youth, directly advancing educational equity for a vulnerable population through policy recommendations.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Judges Juvenile Justice

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in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HB 2315: Enacts various provisions relating to suspicious deaths where there is a history of domestic violence

HB 2315 restricts the sharing of photographs or recordings of deceased persons' bodies in cases involving suspicious deaths with a domestic violence history. It prohibits coroners from making or distributing such copies except for criminal cases, court orders, or civil cases with specific authorization from legal heirs or family members (verified via declaration, ID, and death certificate). The bill also requires law enforcement to notify coroners about domestic violence histories when reporting such deaths. Key exceptions include use in forensic pathology, medical education, or law enforcement investigations. This directly affects coroners, law enforcement, and families seeking access to death-related images in domestic violence cases.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts sharing of sensitive death images in domestic violence cases, requiring family authorization to protect victims' rights and prevent trauma during investigations, aligning with criminal justice reform.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence Law Enforcement

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in committee · Missouri · Senate Feb 5, 2026

SB 1418: Provides exemptions for records of certain criminal offenses from public access on statewide court automation systems

SB 1418 would exempt certain criminal offense records from public view on the state's court automation systems. It directly affects individuals convicted of specific offenses whose records would no longer be accessible to the public through these online systems. The bill's key provision is removing these designated records from public search capabilities on the statewide court database, changing how such information is handled. This is a procedural change to court record access, not a new criminal law.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRestricts public access to criminal records, weakening transparency and oversight in criminal justice systems per bill's core provision.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement

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in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HB 2054: Establishes provisions relating to jail reimbursement by the department of mental health

HB 2054 requires Missouri's Department of Mental Health (DMH) to reimburse counties and cities without counties for the cost of housing individuals who lack mental fitness to stand trial due to mental illness. Specifically, DMH will pay $200 per day for custody time plus medication costs when a person is held in jail because they cannot understand court proceedings or assist in their defense. County sheriffs or city officials must submit certified records of days held and medication costs within two years of eligibility, and DMH will review and pay eligible claims. This bill directly affects local governments managing jail costs for mental health-related custody cases under Section 552.020 of Missouri law.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates state reimbursement of $200/day for jail costs related to mental health, increasing state budget allocation for public services without tax changes.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill reimburses counties for housing mentally ill individuals in jail due to fitness issues, reducing county costs and promoting appropriate mental health care instead of prolonged incarceration, aligning with criminal justice reform.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates DMH reimbursement for mental health-related jail costs (medication, custody), directly funding mental health services for individuals with mental illness.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Mental Health

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in committee · Missouri · House Feb 17, 2026

HB 2047: Creates provisions relating to expungement

HB 2047 creates an "automated expungement" system in Missouri, allowing eligible criminal records to be closed without requiring individuals to file court petitions. It applies to people convicted of non-violent offenses (infractions, misdemeanors, or certain felonies) who have completed their sentence, paid all restitution, and had no new felony/misdemeanor convictions (excluding traffic violations) for 1-3 years after completion. Records will be automatically closed by the state's central repository system starting August 28, 2029, for qualifying cases, but excludes juvenile records, traffic violations, and cases with pending charges. This policy change directly affects Missouri residents with eligible convictions who meet the time and offense-free criteria, removing public access to their records while maintaining court access for legal purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAutomated expungement for non-violent offenses reduces barriers to rehabilitation, aligns with criminal justice reform goals, and decreases recidivism risk per bill's intent.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Juvenile Justice Victims' Rights

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in committee · Missouri · Senate Jan 15, 2026

SB 1158: Creates provisions relating to an extreme risk order of protection

SB 1158 creates new legal provisions for "extreme risk orders of protection," which would allow courts to temporarily remove firearms from individuals deemed to pose an immediate risk of harm to themselves or others. This bill directly affects people identified by a court as being at extreme risk of causing violence, typically through emergency petitions filed by family members, law enforcement, or others with credible concerns. The key mechanism requires a judge to issue a temporary order (often within 24-72 hours) for firearm removal, with a later hearing to determine if a longer-term order is needed. The bill is currently pending review by the Senate Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee after being prefaced and first read.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates extreme risk firearm orders for immediate violence prevention, aligning with criminal justice reform goals to reduce gun violence without criminal charges.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Drug Policy Firearms

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