Oppose Missouri's Death Penalty Expansion

I urge you to oppose SB 196 (Moon), HB 161 (Sparks), SB 531 (Schroer), HB 1031 (Keithley), and SB 575 (Schroer), which seek to expand the death penalty to non-homicide crimes. At a time when a majority of Americans question the fairness and efficacy of capital punishment, these bills represent a costly and regressive step backward—one that directly defies precedent set by the U.S. Supreme Court. In its 2008 ruling in Kennedy v. Louisiana, the Court held that imposing the death penalty for non-homicide offenses violates the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment, deeming it disproportionate to the crime. Public opinion reinforces this stance. A 2021 Pew Research Center survey found that 63% of Americans believe the death penalty does not deter serious crimes, while 78% acknowledge the risk of executing innocent individuals. As 23 states have abolished capital punishment and national momentum grows toward ending it, Missouri should not be expanding its use. Expanding death penalty eligibility fails to protect victims. Instead, it prolongs their trauma. The appeals process in capital cases often stretches for decades, with many convictions overturned, forcing retrials. Child victims, in particular, face lifelong harm as they grow up entangled in an uncertain legal process. Worse, applying the death penalty to crimes against children risks unintended consequences: perpetrators may be incentivized to kill victims to avoid witnesses, while survivors and families may hesitate to report abuse. Life imprisonment offers a more reliable alternative to protect both victims and the public. Financially, the death penalty is a burden. Studies from over a dozen states show capital cases cost up to 10 times more than comparable non-death penalty cases. Rather than expanding this system, Missouri should conduct a full audit to expose its hidden costs—diverting millions from public safety initiatives that could prevent abuse, fund mental health services, and ensure immediate therapy for survivors. For these reasons, I strongly urge you to oppose these bills and any similar efforts to expand the death penalty in Missouri. The state’s resources are better invested in protecting children, supporting survivors, and addressing root causes of crime—not perpetuating a flawed, costly, and unconstitutional practice.