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.