JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Shortly after being inaugurated on Monday, Missouri’s new governor, Mike Kehoe, swiftly enacted a series of orders focused on combating crime. This decisive action mirrors a broader national trend seen across the United States.
Amid a climate of more lenient sentencing practices, a resurgence of tough-on-crime rhetoric has gained traction among both political parties at the start of a new legislative session in state governments. This push for stronger anti-crime measures follows voter-approved initiatives in several states last fall, which have led to stricter penalties for various offenses, ranging from petty theft to severe drug-related crimes.
Kehoe, a Republican who had a successful election campaign, took the oath of office just after noon. Shortly thereafter, he announced measures aimed at apprehending dangerous criminals, enhancing the salaries of seasoned law enforcement personnel, and facilitating their training to work in cooperation with federal immigration agents. Additionally, he mandated the collection of immigration status data for individuals facing criminal charges.
“Missourians are feeling unsafe, and in too many cases, they aren’t safe,” Kehoe emphasized. “When individuals live in fear for their safety or that of their families, it becomes impossible for them to lead productive lives and thrive.”
In Missouri and similar states, these anti-crime strategies are often linked to initiatives aimed at addressing illegal immigration, reflecting the priorities of the incoming presidential administration. Many proposals are also focused on instituting more stringent penalties for trafficking in fentanyl—a powerful synthetic opioid associated with a significant number of overdose-related deaths each year.
A variety of proposed legislation extend beyond drug offenses, with calls for harsher sentences for sexual crimes against minors, violent offenses, and organized retail theft, which have gained notoriety through viral social media coverage of theft organizations.
Democratic state Senator Ron Watson from Maryland is championing a bill that would empower prosecutors to file felony charges against every participant in a group theft if the total value of stolen goods surpasses $1,500, even if individual theft amounts are less. “Criminals have become more daring because they often escape serious consequences,” Watson remarked. “Whether a crime is violent or nonviolent, it must be addressed accordingly.”
Focusing on drug-related issues, Utah Representative Matthew Gwynn is also working to impose much stricter penalties on fentanyl traffickers compared to other illicit drugs like heroin and methamphetamine. Gwynn, who serves as the police chief in his local area, contends that the potential lethality of fentanyl warrants these enhanced sentencing measures.
Rise in crime rates during the pandemic has been notable; however, the most recent trends indicate a decline in violent and property crimes, although shoplifting rates still exceed those prior to the pandemic, according to research from a nonpartisan think tank. Nevertheless, public perception of safety is often influenced more by high-profile violent incidents than by crime statistics.
Events like the New Year’s Day violent occurrence in New Orleans and other alarming incidents have led to increased feelings of vulnerability among the public. Adam Gelb, president and CEO of the Council on Criminal Justice, stated, “When randomness and boldness emerge in crimes, it leads people to feel a sense of lawlessness and a breakdown in acceptable behavior.” Gelb pointed out that many believe that recent reforms have gone too far, advocating for a rebalancing of policies.
Concerns about crime have taken center stage among voters, with a significant majority expressing “very” or “somewhat” serious worries regarding crime in their local communities, as revealed by a comprehensive voter survey conducted during the fall elections. States such as Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Alabama, and California reported notably higher rates of concern, especially for those saying they felt “very” apprehensive about crime.
In California, voters overwhelmingly supported a recent ballot initiative that escalates penalties for shoplifting among repeat offenders while also raising the stakes for certain drug offenses, including those related to fentanyl. This initiative effectively reversed some aspects of a previous progressive law that had reduced various nonviolent crimes to misdemeanors.
Similarly, Colorado’s voters sanctioned a measure that requires longer prison sentences before becoming eligible for parole for various serious crimes, while Arizona also adopted laws that heightened penalties for fentanyl distribution and enforced life sentences for specified child sex trafficking offenses.
Some states are reconsidering their previous decisions to ease sentencing regulations. For instance, Democratic Governor Tina Kotek in Oregon recently signed a law retracting a 2020 referendum that had decriminalized possession of small amounts of hard drugs, reclassifying it from a citation and modest fine to a misdemeanor accompanied by potential jail time.
Additionally, Louisiana’s Republican Governor Jeff Landry endorsed a slew of anti-crime measures, including lengthier sentences for violent offenses and drug-related crimes, while reversing previous laws that had treated younger offenders more leniently.
Missouri lawmakers, who had previously passed reforms to mitigate prison sentences for certain nonviolent drug offenses, are now backing numerous new anti-crime initiatives this year. Among these proposals are measures focusing on fentanyl trafficking, riot prevention, retail theft, and improving police recruitment efforts.
“Far too many families in Missouri are suffering from violence and crime,” remarked House Speaker Jon Patterson during the opening day of the Legislature. “Nothing undermines our state’s development more than allowing criminals to roam freely with little fear of punishment.”
