Criminal Justice Reform

ArchCity Defenders is calling for the consolidation of St. Louis’ municipal court system in a new report. It examines how legislation, litigation and advocacy efforts changed the courts a decade after the killing of Michael Brown Jr.

ArchCity Defenders plans to help thousands of people in the St. Louis region who are experiencing housing insecurity or need help navigating the justice system. It released a guide to help renters find adequate and safe housing in Missouri and information on expunging criminal records.

Health care services in Missouri prisons are declining, according to a prison reform advocacy group. The nonprofit says providers are leaving, emergency care is getting denied and 66 residents have died this year.

The Clean Slate campaign is backing four Missouri bills, which all provide for a more automated expungement process for low-level offenses.

Two members of the St. Louis Detention Facilities Oversight Board have resigned. The resignations follow months of criticisms by board members who say the city has stonewalled members from investigating jail complaints.

UnLocked Labs was one of three winners of the Justice Innovation Program, funded by the social justice nonprofit Dream.org. The $250,000 grant equals a quarter of its current annual budget.

St. Louis activists are again calling for the resignation of Corrections Commissioner Jennifer Clemons-Abdullah and for the Detention Facilities Oversight Board to receive access to the jail.

St. Louis police officers on Thursday forcibly removed the vice chair of the St. Louis Detention Facilities Oversight Board from the St. Louis City Justice Center.

St. Louis is trying to reimagine what the Medium Security Institution, or the Workhouse, should be now that it has closed. Officials are asking residents, people who were once incarcerated inside the Workhouse and those in communities that surround the jail to fill out an online survey to let them know what they should do with the jail.

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson cited the language that expanded who receives restitution after being wrongfully convicted would have burdened taxpayers with that extra cost. Supporters of the legislation say Parson vetoing the bill is disappointing.