Petition to the Missouri General Assembly: Pave the way for Parole Eligibility for Rehabilitated Emerging Adults who have served 25 years and time served for those who have served 30 plus years in Missouri 

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To the Honorable Members of the Missouri General Assembly,

We, the undersigned citizens of Missouri, respectfully urge you to enact legislation that provides a pathway to parole eligibility for individuals who were sentenced to Life Without Parole (LWOP) for offenses committed between 18-21-years-of age. It's time for Missouri to align its justice system with modern scientific understanding and fundamental principle of rehabilitation.

Scientific consensus, supported by extensive research, confirms the human brain, particularly the prefrontal cortex responsible for impulse control, judgement, and long-term planning, is not fully developed until the mid-20s. This means individuals 18-21-years-old, often referred to as "Emerging Adults", possess diminished culpability and a greater capacity for change compared to fully mature adults.

While recognized as adults under the law, the development realities of this age group warrant a more nuanced approach to sentencing, recognizing their unique potential for growth and rehabilitation. Courts in other states have recognized the constitutional implications of imposing LWOP on emerging adults. For example, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Courts, in Commonwealth v. Mattis, found that sentencing emerging adults 18-20-years-old to life without the possibility of parole is unconstitutional under their state's constitution, citing the evolving science of brain development and capacity for reform.

Condemning individuals who committed crimes as emerging adults to die in prison, regardless of their profound personal growth and rehabilitation, denies them hope and removes any incentive for positive transformation while incarcerated.

Whereas, providing a pathway to parole eligibility for these rehabilitated individuals, after a significant period of incarceration, would incentivize constructive behavior, education, and vocational training within our correctional facilities, ultimately enhancing public safety by preparing individuals for successful reentry.

A fair and just system acknowledges that individuals can mature, take responsibility, and genuinely be rehabilitated, offering an opportunity for redemption that benefits both the individual and society.

THEREFORE, We are calling for Missouri to acknowledge proven brain science evidence for this age group 18-21 . These individuals are now 40  and up, they  pose no threat to society. It's time for Missouri to provide a pathway to freedom for these rehabilitated individuals.

1. Establish a mechanism for individuals sentenced to Life Without Parole for crimes committed between the ages of 18-21 become eligible for parole after serving 25 years in prison. The 25-year Threshold (Section 3.2) In other cases, such offender shall be eligible for parole consideration after serving not more than twenty-five years of confinement.

The Retroactive Power ( Section 4.1) This section shall apply retroactively to sentences imposed before, on August 28, 2026.

The immediate review ( Section 4.2) Any offender under twenty years of age currently serving a sentence of life without parole shall be eligible for a parole review hearing not later than two years after August 28, 2026.

  2. Individuals who have served 30 plus years in prison who has passed a thorough review receive time served. 

     3. Age at Offense (18-21): They were sentenced during the "Emerging Adult" stage of brain development, a period science now proves is marked by transient rashness and a high capacity for change.

     4. Require the Missouri Parole Board to conduct thorough individualized reviews, assessing evidence of rehabilitation, remorse, disciplinary records, educational achievements, and a steady work history.

Justice is not served by "Automatic Life." After 30 years, the punishment has been completed. We demand that Missouri law recognize that for an 18-year-old, 30 is a life-time. We ask the Governor and Legislature to authorize immediate release for those who have proven they are no longer the same people they were at age 18.

This bipartisan bill, sponsored by Rep. Bill Lucas, recognizes that those sentence as teenagers (under age 20) deserve a "Second Look" After 25 years. Our loved ones has served 31 years - six years longer than the proposed limit.

Join us in telling the Missouri Legislature that 30 years is a lifetime. Support HB 2322 and bring our REHABILITATED men and women home.

By taking this crucial step, Missouri can uphold its commitment to justice, embrace justice, embrace scientific progress, and champion the power of human redemption, fostering a more just and effective criminal justice system for all.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned Concerned Citizens of Missouri