JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Just moments after taking his oath of office on Monday, Missouri’s newly elected Governor Mike Kehoe is expected to unveil a series of initiatives aimed at tackling crime in the state. This decisive action signifies a broader nationwide shift back to stringent law enforcement policies, which had previously softened in recent years. The renewed emphasis on combating crime is being backed by both Republicans and Democrats as they prepare for a new legislative session.
In recent elections, voters from various states have approved measures imposing tougher penalties for offenses ranging from petty theft to serious drug-related crimes, reflecting an increased public desire for law enforcement accountability. Kehoe, who won his election comfortably, has announced a “Day One Action Ceremony” following his inauguration. He has pledged that his administration will prioritize safety in Missouri, asserting that efforts to reduce crime will be relentless.
Some lawmakers are tying their anti-crime agendas to immigration issues, echoing rhetoric often heard from the previous presidential administration. A number of proposed measures aim to impose stricter penalties for fentanyl trafficking, an opioid linked to a significant number of overdose fatalities each year. Furthermore, other legislative efforts target harsher punishments for violent crimes, retail theft rings, and sexual offenses involving minors, raised to the forefront due to alarming social media footage of organized shoplifting.
In Maryland, Democratic state Senator Ron Watson is advocating for a new law that would allow prosecutors to bring felony charges against all participants in a group theft when the total value surpasses $1,500. Watson highlighted a growing sense of impunity among criminals, arguing, “Violent or nonviolent, a crime is a crime. And that crime needs to be punished.”
The issue of drug-related crime is receiving particular attention, particularly as many states grapple with issues surrounding fentanyl. In Utah, Republican State Representative Matthew Gwynn is pursuing legislation designed to heighten penalties for those involved in large-scale fentanyl distribution, differentiating the severity of these offenses from those related to other drugs. Highlighting the urgency, Gwynn described fentanyl’s impact as “almost terroristic in nature,” given its life-threatening consequences.
While the pandemic initially saw a rise in various crime rates, trends have since shown improvements in violent crime and property crime, although incidents of shoplifting remain elevated compared to pre-pandemic statistics. According to the Council on Criminal Justice, a nonpartisan think tank, perceptions of security can often deviate from statistical realities. Notable crimes, like violent attacks in bustling urban environments, contribute to a growing sentiment of vulnerability among the public, signifying a perceived breakdown of societal norms.
Recent surveys indicate that crime concerns are prominent among voters, with nearly 80% expressing a high level of worry about criminal activity within their communities. This apprehension is particularly pronounced in states such as Louisiana and California. In California, voters overwhelmingly supported a measure in November that enhances penalties for habitual shoplifters and imposes stricter regulations on drug offenses, including those connected to fentanyl.
In Colorado, voters opted to lengthen the time served before parole eligibility for certain serious crimes, while Arizona saw similar legislative pressure to raise penalties for fentanyl sales and child sex trafficking offenses.
Several states are reversing their earlier moves to relax sentencing laws, with Oregon’s Democratic Governor Tina Kotek enacting changes that returned possession of small amounts of hard drugs to misdemeanor status. Louisiana’s Republican Governor Jeff Landry has also signed several laws aimed at countering crime, including harsher penalties for carjackings and a renewed focus on serious offenses.
In Missouri, lawmakers are now reconsidering past reforms made in 2014 which decreased penalties for certain nonviolent drug offenses. This year, the focus is on new anti-crime legislation addressing a range of issues, including drug trafficking and resisting arrest, alongside efforts to bolster police recruitment.
House Speaker Jon Patterson emphasized the urgency of these measures, lamenting the harm inflicted on Missouri families by crime, and expressed a commitment to reversing the trend of criminal impunity in the state. “Nothing is more harmful to the growth of our state than criminals who roam our streets with little fear of punishment,” Patterson stated on the opening day of the legislative session.
