JEFFERSON CITY — Missourians convicted of felony drug possession or use wouldn’t lose access to government food aid under a measure poised to clear the Missouri House.
Proponents said removing current restrictions — which allows states to enforce — would help previously incarcerated people reintegrate into society once they have served their sentences.
The change to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in Missouri is only one proposed alteration to current corrections law included in the bipartisan measure, sponsored by Rep. Chad Perkins, R-Bowling Green.
The new law also requires the Department of Corrections to work to provide certain inmates with photo identification cards when they are released, if they don’t have one. It would also require the state to provide documents to certain inmates staying in Missouri to help them find employment.
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In addition, the legislation would only allow city and county jails to use restraints on pregnant women in their third trimesters in extraordinary circumstances.
By 2025, city and county jails would need policies on the intake and treatment of pregnant offenders.
The procedures are required to address maternal health evaluations, prenatal vitamins, “timely and regular nutritious meals†required to be at least 2,500 calories per day, postpartum recovery and more.
The legislation also restricts the use of handcuffs, chains, irons or straitjackets on juveniles attending juvenile court proceedings.
Legislators also are attempting to address “good time†credits in current law that allow for early release of inmates in state prison if certain conditions are met.
The change would require good-time credits to be awarded but specifies no good-time credit would require the state to release an inmate.
“The parole board in its discretion shall determine the date of release,†the legislation says.
The Department of Corrections would be required to apply a five- to 360-day credit to an inmate’s sentence, depending on the program completed. They department would determine the length of the credit “based on the length of the program,†the bill says.
The legislation requires the state to award credit if an inmate earns their high school diploma or equivalent, a college degree or a vocational training certificate.
Credits could also be earned if the offender completes a voluntary alcohol or drug abuse treatment program, if they complete 1,000 hours of “restorative justice†or if they finish an additional department program.
The new law would take effect Aug. 28.
It would allow offenders who have completed a qualifying program since Jan. 1, 2010, and before the bill takes effect, to apply for a good-time credit during all of 2025.
Offenders would lose their good-time credit with a major conduct violation, if they break state law, have their parole revoked or if they have more than six minor violations in a year.
Credits would be limited to “a maximum of ninety days of credit in any twelve month period,†the legislation said. Inmates sentenced to death or life in prison without parole wouldn’t be allowed to receive credit.
Legislators finalized the wording of the measure Wednesday on a voice vote. Once a final vote is taken, the legislation will advance to the Senate for consideration.
The legislation is .