Key players in Criminal Code gather to “send a message” to Nixon

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Flanked by representatives from more than a dozen organizations in support, two Democrats and two Republicans gathered before reporters today to urge Gov. Jay Nixon to sign the massive criminal code rewrite now sitting on his desk.

Rep. Stanley Cox, R-Pettis, Rep. Chris Kelly, D-Columbia, Sen. Bob Dixon, R-Springfield and Sen. Jolie Justus, D-DISTRICT, all thanked those involved in the bill’s passage and touted the success of streamlining and simplifying a criminal code for the first time in more than 30 years. The bill spent 5 years with the Missouri Bar and various organizations representing defense lawyers, prosecuting attorneys and sheriffs before spending 3 years bouncing around the Capitol.

The final product, a 600-page document, makes only minor changes to actual punishments for various offenses, but does make the entire code “more user friendly,” according to the bill’s sponsors.

“The work that went into this criminal code was unprecedented,” Justus said. “We are here to send a message: sign this bill.”

One of the few changes raising eyebrows has to due with modification to marijuana law. Previously, possession of any amount of marijuana incurred a criminal penalty. Now, possession of less than 10 grams of marijuana will come with a maximum fine of up to $1,000 and carry no criminal penalty. Possession of more than 10 grams remains unchanged.

“[Nixon] has been consistent with political rather than professional communication,” Kelly said.

Nixon’s only communication about the bill, according to the lawmakers, was a message a few weeks ago asking that the bill be split into separate, smaller pieces of legislation. Sponsors say that simply isn’t possible and that Nixon’s feedback came late into the process.

“I’ve had no indication from his office about whether he’ll sign this bill,” Justus said.