Our group, consisting of an Alliance of Collectively Changing Corrections, Show Me Justice for All, and Beyond the Walls, has long stood as a beacon of hope and support for those entangled within the often harsh and unyielding system that is the Missouri Department of Corrections. We tirelessly aim to defend the rights of those we represent, but we now face a pressing issue that requires urgent public attention and intervention.

Recent reports and testimonies have shed light on troubling practices and conditions within the Missouri Department of Corrections. From overcrowded and unsanitary conditions to systemic neglect of inmate health and safety, these allegations are not just shocking but represent a grave violation of human rights and basic decency. Despite numerous appeals to state officials, these issues persist, threatening the wellbeing of countless individuals under their care. We are calling on federal Agencies to investigate the MODOC.

 

Here is the letter we have sent:

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The Honorable Donald J. Trump, President of the United States
Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division

 

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20500

 

RE: Request for Federal Investigation into the Missouri Department of Corrections

 

To whom it may concern,

 

We, the undersigned organizations, advocates, impacted families, formerly incarcerated individuals, and concerned citizens, respectfully request immediate federal attention and a full investigation into the Missouri Department of Corrections (MODOC).

 

This request comes after repeated failures at the state level to adequately address serious concerns involving inhumane living conditions, medical neglect, lack of transparency, retaliation, discrimination, and systemic abuse within Missouri correctional facilities. Families and advocacy organizations have exhausted available state channels in attempts to seek intervention, accountability, and protection for incarcerated individuals whose constitutional and civil rights may be actively violated.

 

Complaints submitted to the Missouri Attorney General’s Office, the House of Representatives Committee for Corrections & Public Institutions, and Constituent Services have repeatedly failed to result in meaningful action or independent review. Instead, concerns are routinely redirected back to the Missouri Department of Corrections itself — the very agency accused of misconduct and neglect. This practice has created a closed loop with no true oversight, leaving incarcerated individuals, their families, and advocates without protection or recourse.

 

As a result, we believe this matter must now be elevated to the highest levels of federal attention.

We respectfully request that federal authorities examine conditions within Missouri correctional institutions under the authority and protections established by the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), which authorizes investigation into systemic civil rights violations occurring within publicly operated institutions, including prisons and correctional facilities.

 

Collectively, our organizations have documented communications from approximately 800 incarcerated individuals and impacted family members regarding conditions and treatment within Missouri facilities. The concerns raised are not isolated incidents, and we would be happy to share all reports upon request.

 

 Within those reports:

• More than 200 reports reference potential Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) violations involving lack of accommodation, denial of access, or discrimination against incarcerated individuals with disabilities.

• More than 150 reports involve concerns related to the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), including allegations of sexual abuse, harassment, intimidation, retaliation, or failures to properly investigate and protect vulnerable individuals.

• Medical neglect remains the single highest category of complaints received, accounting for approximately 42% of all incoming communications to our organizations.

 

These numbers represent human beings — individuals reporting untreated medical conditions, delayed emergency care, denial of medications, lack of mental health treatment, unsafe living environments, retaliation for reporting abuse, and barriers preventing outside advocacy or intervention.

 

We are calling for a comprehensive investigation into the following ongoing concerns within the Missouri Department of Corrections:

• Inhumane living conditions, including unsafe housing environments, extreme temperatures, overcrowding, lack of sanitation, and conditions that violate basic human dignity.

• Medical neglect, including delayed or denied medical treatment, failure to address chronic illnesses, inadequate emergency response, denial of specialist care, and insufficient mental health treatment.

• Violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), including failure to provide accommodations and equal access for incarcerated individuals with disabilities.

• Failures in PREA compliance, including allegations involving sexual abuse, retaliation, intimidation, and inadequate protective measures.

• Lack of independent oversight and accountability, allowing repeated reports of abuse, neglect, and misconduct to continue without meaningful review.

• Failure to cooperate with advocates, attorneys, and family members attempting to assist incarcerated individuals or obtain information regarding health, safety, and welfare.

• A severe lack of transparency involving deaths in custody, medical emergencies, assaults, use-of-force incidents, suicides, and institutional conditions.

• Retaliation and intimidation against incarcerated individuals who report unsafe conditions, abuse, neglect, or violations of their rights.

 

The individuals housed within Missouri prisons remain human beings entitled to constitutional protections, humane treatment, adequate medical care, and protection from abuse regardless of conviction or sentence.

Yet families across Missouri continue to report fear, silence, unanswered emergencies, and barriers to advocacy while incarcerated individuals remain trapped in a system with little independent oversight or accountability.

 

We believe the consistency, severity, and volume of these reports warrant immediate federal review and intervention. We respectfully request a full investigation into the Missouri Department of Corrections, including independent examination of institutional practices, healthcare systems, inmate welfare, ADA compliance, PREA compliance, oversight procedures, and the handling of complaints submitted by families and advocacy organizations.

 

Without outside intervention, we fear continued abuse, preventable suffering, further civil rights violations, and additional loss of life within Missouri facilities.

 

We ask that the voices of incarcerated individuals and their loved ones finally be heard.

 

Respectfully,

Alliance for MO Prison Advocacy

 

Collectively Changing Corrections - Show Me Justice for All - Beyond the Walls

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Our calls for transparency and accountability have often been met with silence or inadequate responses, making it clear that external oversight is desperately needed. A federal investigation into these concerns is imperative to uncover the truth and ensure justice for those who cannot advocate for themselves. It is crucial that corrective measures be enacted to safeguard the wellbeing of all incarcerated individuals, reflecting a justice system that is fair and humane.

We believe in a justice system that should protect and rehabilitate, not punish and dehumanize. It is the responsibility of the Missouri Department of Corrections as well as both the federal and state government to uphold these principles. With your support, we can bring about meaningful change.

We urge you to stand with us in demanding an immediate investigation into the Missouri Department of Corrections. Your voice can help us push for accountability and reform, ensuring the protection of human rights within our correctional facilities. Please join us in this vital cause by signing this petition and advocating for justice and human dignity today.