JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – State Representative Kevin Corlew has filed legislation to help increase public safety and reduce the amount of violent crime in the Kansas City area. The Armed Offender Docket Pilot Project established by HB 2236 would allow the Jackson County Circuit Court to establish a separate criminal docket for gun crimes.
“This process would ensure that violent-offense cases are processed quickly and addressed with specialized knowledge,” Corlew said. “Cities that use these specialized courts have seen good results: the length of cases has been shortened and caseloads have thus been reduced, conviction rates have gone up, and recidivism rates have gone down.”
Residents and officials hope for similar outcomes by implementing an armed offender docket, so that ultimately violent crime in the city will be reduced. In 2015, one of the deadliest years in Kansas City in recent history, 109 people were killed by homicide. The killers used firearms in more than 80 percent of those homicides.
Because of such violence, community-based efforts have formed to develop better law enforcement policies and practices. For example, Kansas City Mayor Sly James appointed the Citizens Task Force on Violence this past November. And the Kansas City No Violence Alliance (“KC NoVA”) is a collaboration of law enforcement, the University of Missouri-Kansas City (“UMKC”), the city, and community groups who work together to implement smart policing strategies, such as focused deterrence.
Mayor James believes the proposed legislation enhances these efforts. James said, “Adding the courts and an armed offender docket to the KC NoVa collaboration of law enforcement, prosecution, and social services will enable all the elements of the criminal justice system to finally work together to address the scourge of gun violence in our community. I appreciate Representative Corlew’s efforts to help focus all available resources on this important issue.”
Under the research component of the legislation, UMKC will study the pilot project for 6 years to make sure the objectives are being met. Supporters say that data from the courts will help officials better identify risk factors that lead to violent crime and, in turn, better deal with violence on Kansas City streets.
Attorney General Chris Koster has also expressed support for the bill. “I thank Representative Corlew for his work on this important public safety project,” said Koster. “Establishing an armed offender docket was a key recommendation of my 2013 Urban Crime Summit. A gun docket allows courts to focus on swift and meaningful consequences for weapons offenses. Jackson County simply cannot afford to coddle armed criminals.”
Recognizing the public-safety value of the legislation, Kansas City Police Chief Darryl Forte said, “We support any initiative that would help us reduce gun violence in Kansas City, Missouri.” He added, “If an armed offender docket could allow us to better identify risk factors that lead to violent crime and get firearms away from people who use them to harm others, then it would improve the safety of our community.”
Corlew noted that his bill makes no further gun restrictions but instead provides for the swift enforcement of the laws we already have against illegal gun use. The bill was assigned to the House Civil and Criminal Proceedings Committee, and is currently under consideration.
For further questions please contact Rep. Corlew’s office at 573-71-3618.
