Missouri Crime Bill Could Cost State $950 Million, Critics Say
New crime law signed by Gov. Mike Kehoe could cost Missouri nearly $1 billion while pushing more teens into adult courts, state analysis shows.
JEFFERSON CITY, MISSOURI — Governor Mike Kehoe signed crime legislation this month that critics say will damage Missouri’s economic future while carrying a potential price tag of $950 million, according to the state’s own fiscal analysis.
The new law expands pathways for prosecuting teenagers aged 14 to 18 as adults and establishes broader mandatory minimum sentences across the state. The legislation moves Missouri in the opposite direction of states like Iowa and Washington, which have reduced juvenile mandatory minimums in recent years.
Massive Financial Impact Projected
Missouri’s official fiscal note estimates the legislation could cost taxpayers $950 million, raising questions about the state’s budget priorities. The analysis suggests the new requirements will significantly increase incarceration rates and associated costs.
The law bundles together multiple criminal justice changes that will push more adolescents into the adult justice system. Critics argue this approach ignores decades of scientific research on adolescent brain development.
Brain Science Challenges New Approach
Research consistently shows that adolescent brains are not fully developed until the mid-to-late twenties, particularly the prefrontal cortex that governs decision-making and risk assessment. Young people demonstrate higher levels of impulsivity and susceptibility to peer influence during this developmental stage.
The Supreme Court recognized these developmental differences in the landmark 2012 case Miller v. Alabama, which limited mandatory sentences for juveniles. Justice Elena Kagan wrote that “children are constitutionally different from adults for sentencing purposes.”
States Moving in Opposite Direction
Several states have moved away from mandatory minimums for juveniles in recent years. Iowa and Washington have reduced such requirements, focusing instead on circumstances and the best interests of both youth and society.
These states examined the prospects of youth rehabilitation rather than expanding adult prosecution pathways. Missouri’s new legislation takes the state in the opposite direction from these national trends.
The timing of the legislation has drawn criticism from those who argue the state rushed through significant criminal justice changes without adequate consideration of the long-term consequences. The potential $950 million cost represents a substantial commitment of state resources over the coming years.
