SB 1379 - This act provides that criminal justice agencies, as defined in the act, shall share with a bona fide researcher, as defined in the act, all criminal justice data and records, including relevant personally identifying information and demographic information, held by that agency relating to: (1) A law enforcement stop, search, or seizure; (2) A warrant, arrest, or citation; (3) Participation in a pre-arrest or post-arrest diversion, specialty court, or other alternative resolution program; (4) A criminal charge, disposition, or sentence; (5) Pretrial or posttrial release from custody, or any terms or conditions of release; (6) A grant, order, change in the terms of, or termination of pretrial supervised release, probation, parole, or participation in correctional or rehabilitative programs; or (7) Formal discipline, reclassification, or relocation any person under criminal sentence or correctional control. A criminal justice agency may assess reasonable fees, not to exceed actual costs, for the data and records. Before February 28, 2027, the Attorney General shall issue guidance to assist criminal justice agencies in complying with the requirements of this act. This act is similar to HCS/HBs 2751, 2831, & 2695. TRISTAN BENSON, JR.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Nick Schroer

Establishes Missouri rules for releasing criminal activity data, balancing public transparency with privacy and law enforcement operational security needs.

Second Read and Referred S Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee

Legislative bill overview

SB 1379 creates new provisions governing how data on criminal activity is released in Missouri. The bill appears to address public access to crime-related information, though specific mechanisms aren't detailed in the current filing. This is a prefiled bill with limited publicly available details at this early stage.

Why is this important

Crime data access affects multiple stakeholders: law enforcement agencies managing information security, researchers studying criminal justice trends, media outlets reporting on public safety, and communities seeking transparency about crime in their neighborhoods. The balance between public transparency and protecting sensitive investigative information is a persistent policy challenge.

Potential points of contention

Scope of data release: Whether provisions require or restrict release of arrest records, conviction data, victim information, or ongoing investigation details

Privacy protections: How the bill handles sensitive personal information of defendants, victims, and witnesses versus public's right to know

Implementation costs: Potential burden on law enforcement and courts to organize, redact, and distribute data while maintaining security protocols