In theory, after inmates have “paid their debt to society,” they are able to return to society and create a normal, fulfilling, and productive life. In Missouri that is far from true. Instead, these individuals face a multitude of barriers to employment, education, housing, food support, voting rights, and more. Burdensome parole requirements set the stage for recidivism – at great cost to them and to taxpayers as well.
The criminal justice reforms passed in last year’s legislative session are a step in the right direction. But they do not fully address the situation, nor are they fully implemented. In this program, we’ll gain an understanding of the status quo, what additional reforms are needed, and how we can help make them happen.
Our speakers both have intimate knowledge of Missouri’s prison system and include Beth M. Huebner, a professor in the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Missouri-St. Louis and Shawntelle L. Fisher, the founder and leader of SoulFisher Ministries.