Roorda: Domestic Violence Task Force, Vietnam Wall in Arnold, Suicide Prevention Month

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TASK FORCE

Preventing those who commit domestic violence from manipulating victims was one of several topics discussed at a Monday meeting of the Missouri attorney general's Domestic Violence Task Force. The group also addressed possible legal changes that would create a mandatory holding period for offenders in Missouri.

"While there are statutes in the law that work, the task force will have a report for the next legislative session containing recommendations for legislation and best practices communities could adopt," said Rep. Jeff Roorda (D) Barnhart.

To read the full Post Dispatch article click here.

VIETNAM WALL COMING TO ARNOLD

At left: The Dignity Memorial® Vietnam Wall coming to Arnold, Missouri.

The Memorial will arrive with an escort on Wednesday, October 13th.  The Wall wil be erected on Thursday morning, October 14th, with an "Opening Ceremony" to begin at 1:00pm.  You may view the Wall 24/7 from the opening ceremonies on Thursday to the closing ceremonies on Sunday evening.  Viewing the Wall is free of charge and open to the public.

The Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall is a traveling, three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. The faux-granite replica stands 240 feet long and eight feet high and is inscribed with the names of more than 58,000 Americans who died or are missing in Vietnam.

For more information on the Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall visit
The 20th Century GI.com

SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH

In response to national recognition of suicide as a worldwide public health problem, collaborative planning efforts began in Missouri that resulted in the passage of legislation in 2003 that mandates the development of this statewide suicide prevention plan. The Missouri Suicide Prevention Plan has been developed with broad input from public health experts, mental health providers, suicide survivors and twelve town hall meetings conducted in communities across Missouri. The recommendations have been developed using reviews of research, experience of other states in suicide prevention and experience gained in suicide prevention efforts in Missouri. Broad community input was sought to tailor the scientific knowledge and national experience to address the specific needs of Missouri communities and organizations.

To learn more about Suicide Prevention click here.

JUDGES CAN NOW CONSIDER COSTS OF INCARCERATION

Missouri will soon become the first state to provide judges with information concerning the financial costs to taxpayers of sentencing individual defendants to prison, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported on Sept. 14. The information will be provided by the Missouri Sentencing Advisory Commission, a judicial branch panel that sets guidelines for establishing fairness and consistency in criminal sentencing.

The cost of Missouri's criminal justice system has become a concern in recent years as incarceration rates have increased while financial resources dedicated to the system have failed to keep up. During his State of the Judiciary speech to the General Assembly in February, Chief Justice William Ray Price Jr. warned that a generation of so-called "tough-on-crime" policies has resulted in a "a great waste of resources" that has done nothing to reduce crime. Price was especially concerned about the increasing tendency to impose prison sentences for non-violent offenses when less costly alternatives are available that are more effective at reducing recidivism.

Judges will continue to determine how much, if any, weight to give to the financial estimates when making sentencing decisions in individual cases. Supporters of providing the information say it will give judges a role in ensuring that the resources of the criminal justice system are allocated wisely. Some prosecutors, however, are concerned about making financial considerations a factor in sentencing decisions.

If there is anything I can do for you, please do not hesitate to contact my office.  I enjoy serving my constituents as "their" voice in the Missouri State Capitol.