Purpose and Goals

The Missouri Advisory Commission is an organization that began in 1994, to preside over the ethical nature of sentencing in Missouri court cases. For years this organization has participated in a variety of cases ranging from civil court cases to state court cases. The Commission has engrained itself so deep into the judicial scene of Missouri that it now presides over the Department of Corrections, The Board of Probation and Parole, Public Defenders, Defense Attorneys, and of course the public. Along with keeping a close eye on current sentencing, the Missouri Advisory Commission, conducts studies based on past cases. The Commission incorporates financial standing and social standing during each study, to make sure the sentencing was lawful. The Missouri Advisory Commission is vested in a list of regimented goals and purposes.

1. Risk Assessment: The Missouri Advisory Commission not only gains information for the criminals up for trial, but the Commission also garners knowledge on any criminals up for parole. All this information is collected and properly presented to either nullify and enact a criminals probation status. With a deep staff, they can gain knowledge from all aspects of the judicial system, so even if attorneys and lawyers, present information for their client, the Missouri Advisory Commission will have a powerful standing in the court’s decision.

2. Categorization: In order to properly understand each crime, the Missouri Advisory Commission came up with a categorization for all crimes that can be reasonably committed. The hierarchy of the list ranges from Level 1 (most severe) to Level 3 (least severe). This categorization is light barometer they judge each criminal by, but it allows them to understand the thought process behind the law, attorneys, and lawyers.

3. Recommendations: At the end of every year, The Missouri Advisory Commission will collect data on all the cases that occurred within the state of Missouri. This data is then analyzed on several different levels. At first the Commission will make sure that the sentencing for the same crimes, were equal across the board. Once they have completed this, they will build an average recommendation sentencing for each crime. This recommendation will be presented to the Department of Corrections, The Board of Probation and Parole, Public Defenders, Defense Attorneys, Lawyers, and the public.

4. Sentence Negations: Although breaking and entering and theft, can both be considered a misdemeanor, does not mean they should be treated as such. Along with each criminal being an individual, each crime is completely different. The Missouri Advisory Commission wants to eliminate the idea of grouping crimes in lumped categories. In one instance, it can be put a less severe criminal away for longer than he deserves, but on the unfortunate opposite side, it can release a severe criminal quicker than he deserves.

Laws

The organization; Missouri Advisory Commission began in 1994, with the pledge to preside of the ethical nature of sentencing in Missouri cases. For several years, the Commission studied and participated in a variety of court cases. Whether it was a civil court case or a state court case, they was no case no to big or to small. Through years of constant work throughout the Missouri area, they established themselves as a prevalent force in Missouri judicial scene. Now, the Commission works with the Department of Corrections, The Board of Probation and Parole, Public Defenders, Defense Lawyers and Attorneys, and of course the public. The Commission not only participates in Missouri court cases, they conduct annual studies to provide a more ethical legal system. During each of their studies, the Commission incorporates financial standing and social standing into each criminal sentencing of that year. Since 1994, The Missouri Advisory Commission has influenced several laws which have improved the legal system of Missouri.

1. Formal 127: An attorney is not allowed to scan his/her client’s files, and destroy the original without consent from his client. This law may seem quite obvious, but in a state which suffered from severe corruption for years, it has become necessary to establish. Since, the law has been enacted, it has aided in nearly eliminated corruption throughout the Missouri judicial system.

2. Formal 126: A defendant is not allowed to asked to waive the right to seek post-conviction relief. The individual may be a criminal, but he is not inhuman. It important to provide each criminal with the opportunity to change and prosperity. In most cases, a criminal is released in a few years; this individual must be physically and mentally ready to incorporate himself back into the world.

3. Collaborative Law: The Missouri Advisory Commission aided the state in passing a law, to collaborative law may ethically be practice in Missouri. This law enables individuals on trial to a smoother judicial operation. A court situation is stressful enough for the lawyers, attorneys, and all other individuals involved, it important to make everyone job a bit easier.

4. Conduct Law: Each Missouri attorney must abide by a code of conduct in and out of the court room. This is to insure that the tradition judicial standards are applied. As a lawyer or an attorney, you have a responsibility not only to your client or the precise court room, but the federal and state judicial systems you preside under. This conduct law dissects an attorneys or lawyers, dress code, and speech during each court case.

5. Advertisement Law: After the Missouri Advisory Commission built momentum with the conduct law, they continued in the same direction with the Advertisement Law. This law forces attorneys and lawyers to only advertise the precise options they provide. For years, lawyers and attorneys in the area, advertised false information about their practice to gain more clients, leading to a very untrustworthy judicial system.

Missouri Cases

In 1994, The Missouri Advisory Commission was created to preside of the ethical and moral nature of sentencing in Missouri cases. The Commission, for years, studied and participated in a variety of different court cases. For the Missouri Advisory Commission, there is no case to big or to small; whether civil court cases or state court cases. Through their constant work for the public, they established themselves as one of the strongest voices in the Missouri judicial scene. The Missouri Advisory Commission now works with the Board of Probation and Parole, Department of Correction, Defense Lawyers and Attorneys, and the public. Along with presiding over Missouri court cases, they also participate in several studies based around sentencing patterns throughout each court case. The Commission examines the criminals financial standing and social standing, and attempts to find a correlation in the sentencing. The Missouri Advisory Commission has a deep staff, of dedicated individuals who want to create an ethical judicial system for the public. Each staff member is appointed by an elected official within the state, whether it is the Governor, Supreme Court, or a County Judge.

1. The Chair: The Missouri Advisory Commission’s chair is Judge Michael Wolff. The chair of the Commission is appointed by the Metropolitan Area’s Supreme Court. This position is given to individuals who have spent years within not only the Missouri Advisory Commission, but within the Missouri judicial scene.

2. George Lombardi: Lombardi was appointed by the Director from the Department of Corrections. He is the chairman’s right hand man. He aids the chairman in several of his executive decisions.

3. Phyllis Becker: Becker was appointed by one of the many Governors in Missouri. Along with presiding over meetings the Missouri Advisory Commission holds, she takes part in several of the annual studies.

4. Senator Kurt Schaefer: The positions within the Missouri Advisory Commission are not regulated towards, average citizens, but members of the government can join as well. The Senate President Pro Team appoints his position.

5. Representative Bryan Pratt: Rep. Bryan Pratt is appointed by one of the highest organizations in the nation, the House of Representative. Not only does Pratt preside over his duties as a Missouri representatives, but he participates in several of the ethical tests that the Missouri Advisory Commission conducts.

6. Dane Miller: Miller represents the closest attachment towards the Missouri judicial system. He is elected by the Missouri Bar, in order to regulate an ethical and moral judicial system. He also participates in The Missouri Advisory Commission’s testament to a fair and smooth judicial process.

7. Judge Richard Callahan: Along with Dane Miller’s connection to the Missouri judicial board, Judge Callahan provides an inner voice for those employees. He is able to give the Missouri Advisory Commission an inside perspective on the concerns and successes of the current status of the Missouri judicial board.

Advisory Commission

The Missouri Advisory Commission was established in 1994 with the goal to provide a ethical and moral ideals within the Missouri judicial board. The Commission acted as a silent orator for several years, watching and case after case. The made it a point not to diminish any civil court cases from the state court case; each held its own importance. Due to this diligent dedication the Missouri Advisory Commission established itself as one of the most prevalent organizations in the Missouri judicial scene. The Missouri Advisory Commission now works with the Board of Probation and Parole, Department of Correction, Defense Lawyers and Attorneys, and the public. Each year the Missouri Advisory Commission conducts studies that examines the financial standing and social standing, and attempt to find a correlation to their sentencing. Although the Missouri Advisory Commission, has far exceeded its main goal, it has slowly changed the landscape of the Missourian judicial board. To gain a better understanding of their goals, a short list has been comprised below, with their initial 1994 goals.

1. The Missouri Advisory Commission shall consist of eleven members. One member will be appointed by the speaker of the house. One member will be appointed by the president of the senate. One member will be appointed by the director of the Department of corrections. Six of the Commission members will be appointed by the following: the public defender commission; private citizens; a private member of the Missouri Bar; the board of Probation and Parole; and a prosecutor. Two members will be appointed by the supreme court, one from a metropolitan area and one from a rural area. Each member shall serve a four year term.

2. The Commission will conduct studies of the sentencing throughout the Missouri courts, in order to determine whether or not there has been any disparaging differences the have occurred. In conducting these studies we must consider the individual at hand, the criminal, the lawyers and attorneys presiding over the case, and the ethical nature of this particular case.

3. The Missouri Advisory Commission will comprise a categorization for each crime’s recommended sentence and probationary period. These recommendations will be based on the annual studies we will conduct on the Missouri judicial system.

4. The Commission will not only study court cases, but the home-based incarceration, probation and parole options.

5. The Missouri Advisory Commission is strictly on a volunteer basis. The occupation of each individual, no matter what position, is purely philanthropic based.

6. Each judicial organization including The Board of Probation and Parole, the Department of Correction, and Defense Lawyers and Attorneys must provide us with the necessary information to properly conduct our studies.

7. The Missouri Advisory Commission will preside over every court case in the Missouri judicial board, not only to conduct studies, but voice our opinion as well.

Ethics of Juvenile Sentencing

This past Monday, November 9, 2009, two minors were sentenced to life in prison following crimes where no one was killed. Terrence Graham at the time of the sentencing was 17 year old, and Joe Sullivan is an astonishing 13 years old. If Joe Sullivan lives to the average male age of 81, he will serve 68 years in prison for a crime. At one point in sentencing a criminal should express ethics over justice? Should morals and/or values come into play when holding the life over another human being? If this child can’t go off to war, how can we give him life in jail? There are several questions revolving around cases and several like this around the country. That is why Missouri, has created the Missouri Sentencing Advisory Commission. Finally, there is a group of individuals that realize that change within a human is a possibility and that law, age makes an exceptional difference. This group participates in several different affairs regarding the laws and sentencing, and the role of attorney and lawyers.

Background: The Missouri Advisory Commission is an advisory board that work within the justice system of Missouri. Along with the Department of Corrections, the Advisory Commission also works in conjunction with The Board of Parole and Probation, Public Defenders, Defense Attorneys, and of course the public. In 1994, the Missouri Advisory Commission was created in order to properly examine sentencing in the Missouri. The Advisory Commission works with attorneys and lawyers in the area to establish the correct sentencing for criminals. In order to accomplish the proper sentencing for juveniles and average criminals, the Missouri Advisory Commission, acquires accurate information surrounding the crimes back round and current life. The belief is that, no matter the crime, each individual is different and must be treated that way.

Studies: Along with relaying necessary information in regards to the criminal, The Missouri Advisory Commission also examines the disparaging range of sentencing between individuals in a variety of social class or economic standing. This study is conducted in order to better understand the reasoning behind past sentencing, and to eliminate any possibilities of this ever occurring again. While, several individuals conduct this study, several others perform a study based around the sentencing in different courts around the area. The Commission, enacts this study, in order to make sure that each civil court in the circuit is abiding by the same laws within the length of sentencing and use of probation.

Future: Now, that the Missouri Advisory Commission has established a brand in Missouri, they are attempting to spread the idea into other states. The eventual goal of the Missouri Advisory Commission is the have a national based organization that will preside over all sentencing.