Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker and her staff
have brought justice to hundreds of victims and families in Kansas City, and I
greatly value their partnership.
The Prosecutor’s office works with our detectives and
officers on a daily basis to hold accountable those who commit crimes,
especially violent crimes. Jackson County sends more killers to prison than any other county in Missouri. From
2009-2013, nearly 200 defendants went to prison for manslaughter and murder.
That is far more than even St. Louis.
And when someone
goes to prison for a violent crime in Jackson County, the state’s own
sentencing report data shows they go for a longer time than violent offenders
in rural and suburban counties.
In addition to
ensuring that those who commit crimes receive the appropriate punishments, the
Jackson County Prosecutor’s office also is partnering with the community and
our department to prevent violent crime before it happens. They have been a key
component of the Kansas City No Violence Alliance (KC NoVA). This
focused-deterrence program targets those at the epicenters of criminal networks
for aggressive police enforcement and prosecution. Meanwhile, it offers
services and resources to those on the fringes of criminal networks who want to
seek out a new path away from a life of crime. It’s showing promising results:
homicides in Kansas City are down by a third from year-to-date totals in the
previous five years.
As I’ve said many
times, the criminal justice system needs the support of the community to make
our community safe. More violent offenders end up in prison when we work
together.
I have confidence in
Jean Peters Baker and her staff to take on the toughest cases and see that
justice is served in our community.
Send comments to kcpdchiefblog@kcpd.org.
