JEFFERSON CITY — Sen. Joseph Keaveny, D-St. Louis, is once again sponsoring legislation to reform a portion of Missouri’s criminal justice system. Sen. Keaveny is dedicated to ensuring that Missourians receive fair and accurate sentences when convicted of a crime. Setting standards for eyewitness procedures and interrogations would prevent future failures of justice by addressing important issues that had led to wrongful convictions in the state.

“When wrongful convictions happen, it is a travesty, not only for those who are imprisoned, but to the victims and families on both sides of the case,” Sen. Keaveny said. “Given the number of identified flaws that have come to light in recent years, we must move forward and implement best practices for all departments across the state.”

Senate Bill 732 addresses the state’s criminal justice system on eyewitness identification, custodial interrogations, and collection and preservation of forensic evidence. In current law, interrogations already have to be recorded, but there are multiple exemptions including not having access to recoding equipment.

“I am focusing my efforts on a few key issues that are critical to improving our criminal justice system, based on recommendations from a two-year study by the American Bar Associations Death Penalty Assessment Team,” Sen. Keaveny said. “These measures have multiple law enforcement benefits that will protect police from misconduct, reduce court time, and ensure the right perpetrator is convicted.”

In drafting legislation, Sen. Keaveny collaborated with experts from the American Bar Association, the Innocence Project, Missouri Catholic Conference, and Department of Public Safety, as well as law enforcement officials, prosecutors and defense attorneys.

Specific provisions in Senate Bill 732 would require:

• Law enforcement agencies to submit written policies governing eyewitness identification procedures and policies to the Department of Public Safety.
• Expert testimony on eyewitness identifications be admissible at the hearing and at trial.
• Statements made during unrecorded interrogations be presumed inadmissible in a criminal proceeding, unless one the statutory claims exists.
• Biological evidence gathered during an investigation of first degree murder to be retained until 20 years after the offender has been executed or upon being pardoned or otherwise found innocent.
• Law enforcement agencies to develop written guidelines for the identification, collection and preservation of biological evidence.

To follow the progress of Sen. Keaveny’s sponsored legislation, please visit his Missouri Senate website at www.senate.mo.gov/keaveny.