EXECUTIVE ORDER
17-17

WHEREAS, Missouri must provide for the safety and security of its people by improving its criminal justice system, reducing its prison population, and decreasing recidivism rates; and

WHEREAS, in 2011, Missouri joined the United States Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance, Justice Reinvestment Initiative; and

WHEREAS, in 2001, Missouri launched the Missouri Working Group on Sentencing and Corrections; and

WHEREAS, Missouri's Working Group on Sentencing and Corrections recommended changes to Missouri 's criminal justice system, which culminated in the passage and adoption of House Bill No. 1525, known as Missouri's Justice Reinvestment Act; and

WHEREAS, Missouri's Working Group on Sentencing and Corrections has since disbanded; and

WHEREAS, more work is needed to align our State with evidence-based practices that will improve the efficiency of our criminal justice system; and

WHEREAS, Missouri leaders and stakeholders should work across agencies to leverage lessons learned and apply research on what works from other state models to recommend needed reforms; and

WHEREAS, Missouri should undertake an independent analysis of the State's corrections and criminal justice landscape to help identify prison population factors and develop recommendations for legislation and other policy changes to improve public safety while reducing the need for increased prison capacity; and

WHEREAS, Missouri must continue to be an effective agent for change in criminal justice policy.

NOW THEREFORE, I, ERIC R. GREITENS, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI, hereby create the Missouri State Justice Reinvestment Taskforce as follows:

  1. The Task Force shall consist of the following members:
    1. The Governor of Missouri or his designee;
    2. The Director of the Missouri Department of Corrections or her designee;
    3. A member of Missouri's Probation and Parole Board appointed by the Governor;
    4. The Director of the Missouri Department of Public Safety or his designee;
    5. The Director of the Missouri Department of Mental Health or his designee;
    6. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Missouri or her designee;
    7. A circuit court judge appointed by the Governor;
    8. A member of the Missouri Senate from the majority caucus;
    9. A member of the Missouri Senate from the minority caucus;
    10. A member of the Missouri House of Representatives from the majority caucus;
    11. A member of the Missouri House of Representatives from the minority caucus;
    12. The Chair of the Appropriations Committee of the Missouri Senate;
    13. The Chair of the Budget Committee of the Missouri House of Representatives;
    14. A representative appointed by the Missouri Association of Counties;
    15. A prosecutor appointed by the Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys;
    16. A public defender appointed by the Missouri Public Defender Commission;
    17. A law enforcement representative appointed by the Missouri Police Chiefs Association;
    18. A law enforcement representative appointed by the Missouri Sheriffs Association;
    19. A representative from a victim services organization appointed by the Governor;
    20. A former offender appointed by the Governor; and
    21. A member of the public appointed by the Governor.
  2. All Task Force members shall serve at the pleasure of their appointing authority. The chair of the Taskforce shall be the Director of the Missouri Department of Corrections or her designee. The chair shall develop a work plan, set the agenda, and provide leadership and direction for the Task Force.
  3. A quorum for the Task Force meetings shall consist of a majority of the members. The Task Force shall make recommendations on an affirmative vote of a majority of its members.
  4. The Task Force shall develop recommendations utilizing data, research, and the following principles and goals:
    1. Maintain a safe and effective correctional system;
    2. Maintain capacity for our most violent offenders;
    3. Provide evidence-based interventions to reduce recidivism and deter crime;
    4. Achieve justice for victims;
    5. Ensure accountability and set clear performance measures for our criminal justice system;
    6. Minimize the need to increase prison capacity; and
    7. Increase public safety through a reinvestment of a portion of any identified savings resulting from these recommendations into other areas of the criminal justice system, or other public systems, which have been proven to reduce recidivism.
  5. In developing their recommendations, the Task Force may form working groups.
  6. The Task Force shall produce a written report of their recommendations by December 31 , 2017.
  7. The Task Force shall develop omnibus legislation based on their recommendations for the 2018 legislative session.
  8. The Task Force shall participate in the United States Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance, Justice Reinvestment Initiative ("JRI"). The JRI may provide data analysis; information on evidence-based practices in sentencing and corrections policies; assistance with Taskforce facilitation and engagement of the public, interested parties, and public safety stakeholders; development of policy options and modeling the impact of those options; development of a communications plan; and assistance in building public and policymaker support for recommendations.
  9. In addition to JRI assistance, the Missouri Department of Corrections shall provide staff support for the Task Force. If the Task Force requires assistance or non-privileged data from any other state agency, board, or commission, then such agency, board, or commission shall provide assistance or non-privileged data to the Taskforce upon request.
  10. The members of the Task Force shall not receive any compensation for their activities as members of the group, but members may be reimbursed for expenses incurred in attending Task Force meetings, subject to the availability of funds.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Missouri, in the City of Jefferson, on this 28th day of June, 2017.

[Eric R. Greitens's signature]
Eric R. Greitens
Governor

ATTEST:

[Jay Ashcroft's signature]
John R. Ashcroft
Secretary of State

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