A Missouri House committee is debating whether to back a bill that would create an independent “Office of Transparency” within the state Department of Corrections.
Sharon Geuea Jones with the Missouri State Conference of the NAACP testified in favor of HB 1616 at a recent hearing.
She said an independent transparency office will benefit Corrections staff as well as inmates.
“I can tell you that Corrections officers are facing terrible working conditions on a daily basis, and the internal reporting does nothing to help them,” Jones testified. “In fact, a lot of times they get retaliated against.”
Clifton Davis of Columbia is with the Missouri Justice Coalition and is also a former prison inmate.
“When you are inside, you are largely invisible,” Davis testified. “There is no neutral party you can turn to. There is no independent set of eyes verifying that policies are being followed, that conditions are safe, or that complaints are being taken seriously.”
Two people testified against the bill in writing. Arnie Dienoff, a self-described state public advocate, said the proposed “Office of Transparency” would duplicate existing services while costing the state at least half a million dollars.
“There is currently a State Department of Corrections Inspector and Internal Affairs at all prison locations throughout the state,” he said.
Another witness, Sarah Berry, submitted written testimony opposing HB 1616. She said that the Office of Transparency, as structured in the bill, would only have two staff members but be given “sweeping authority” to access prison grounds “with or without notice” and “confidential communications” would be shielded from the public.
The House Committee on Corrections and Public Institutions has not yet voted on the bill. State Rep. Bill Allen, R-Kansas City, is the bill sponsor.
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