JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Leading Missouri law enforcement groups have joined the coalition in support of Amendment 2, a change to the Missouri Constitution that will remove a loophole created by recent court decisions regarding the admissibility of evidence used to prosecute child sexual predators. Representatives of the Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, the Missouri Police Chiefs Association, and the Missouri Sheriffs Association announced their support at a press conference this morning in Jefferson City.
The change will allow relevant evidence of prior criminal acts to be admissible in the prosecution of crimes involving minors, which is the standard used by federal courts and other states. Missouri is more restrictive than any other state, barring prosecutors from telling jurors about prior criminal sex acts in nearly all cases against accused child predators.
“As a prosecutor, I see these horrific crimes committed against children nearly every single day,” Platte County Prosecutor and campaign Co-Chair Eric Zahnd said. “This common sense change will help ensure that Missouri’s children are protected and those who commit crimes against them can be successfully prosecuted.”
Zahnd clarified that a judge will still need to find the evidence admissible to a jury before presentation.
The measure, which was referred to the ballot by the Missouri legislature – sponsored by Rep. John McCaherty (R-High Ridge) and handled by Sen. Rob Schaaf (R-St. Joseph), received broad bipartisan support from both the Missouri House and Senate. It also has the support of leading law enforcement and child advocacy organizations.
Though Sheldon Lineback, Executive Director of the Missouri Police Chiefs Association, was unable to attend the conference, his statement on the measure was released to press at the conference.
“Missouri’s police chiefs know first hand the devastating effects of allowing sexual offenders to repeatedly prey on innocent children,” Lineback said. “That’s why we wholeheartedly support this amendment which will allow juries to know the true history of sex offenders and hold them accountable.”
“Passing Amendment 2 would give law enforcement a much-needed tool in our ongoing fight to protect Missouri kids from our society’s worse crimes; heinous sexual crimes against children,” said Kevin Bond, Pettis County Sheriff and President of the Missouri Sheriff’s Association. “I am proud to stand with the Missouri’s police chiefs and prosecutors today supporting this important measure that would protect Missouri’s children from dangerous predators.”
Bond told reporters that the measure passing will assist “in the process on quite a few cases.”
“Our association has been moving for years to give juries more evidence,” Zahnd said.
The coalition’s website is ProtectMissouriChildren.com. Zahnd said there will be an active campaign and encouraged supporters to donate online.
Missourians will vote on the measure on November 4.
Rachael Herndon was the editor at The Missouri Times and also produced This Week in Missouri Politics, published Missouri Times Magazine, and co-hosted the #MoLeg podcast. She joined The Missouri Times in 2014, returning to political reporting after working as a campaign and legislative staffer.
Rachael studied at the University of Missouri – Columbia. She lives in Jefferson City with her husband, Brandon, and their two children.
