New Polling in Missouri Shows Broad Support for Solving More Violent Crimes, Expanded DNA Collection, Increasing Transparency in Corrections, and Incentives for Rehabilitation.

Houston, TX. (January 12, 2026) — New polling commissioned by Arnold Ventures shows that voters in Missouri overwhelmingly support several, evidence-based efforts to improve public safety and make the state’s criminal justice system fairer and more effective. 

In 2025, the Missouri legislature created a Violent Crime Clearance Grant Program to help law enforcement hire and retain investigators, upgrade technology, and, ultimately, solve more violent crimes. The new polling shows that 85% of voters support fully funding this grant program. More generally, 74% of voters would prefer public funds to be spent on solving crimes, rather than increasing prison sentences. 

In the current legislative session, bills have been proposed around DNA collection, prison transparency, and earned/​good time credits to reduce sentence length. 

• SB 1458 and HB 2868 would require law enforcement to collect DNA for all felony arrests to help solve crimes and potentially exonerate innocent people. This policy is supported by over 80% of voters. 

• HB 1616 would create an Independent Office of Corrections and Transparency to monitor prison conditions, document any waste, fraud, or abuse, increase government transparency, and ensure the safety of corrections staff and incarcerated people. This policy is supported by 87% of voters. Moreover, when told that such an office could cost 1% of the current Department of Corrections budget, 81% of voters still support it. 

• HB 2695 and HB 2751 would create a Missouri version of President Trump’s First Step Act and provide certain incarcerated people an opportunity to reduce their total sentence length through good and earned time credits, while retaining existing parole board discretion to release parole-eligible individuals. This is supported by 79% of voters.  

“Reported violent crime is down in most Missouri communities, but solve rates are too low and recidivism rates remain too high,” says AV Vice President of Criminal Justice Advocacy Kevin Ring. ​“Policymakers should take steps to increase solve rates and reduce recidivism even further. The good news is that there is broad public support for adopting smart, proven strategies, like expanding DNA collection and incentivizing rehabilitation, to cut crime. At a time of tightening state budgets, leaders should ensure taxpayers are getting the biggest public safety return on their investment.” 

“Voters continue to make clear that they expect two things from the criminal justice system: accountability and opportunities for redemption,” says Patrick Plein, Director of CPAC’s Nolan Center for Justice. ​“Individuals must be held accountable for their actions, just as the justice system itself needs to be accountable for the taxpayer resources it utilizes and the outcomes it produces. At the same time, voters believe that punishment must come to an end at some point, and individuals with criminal records need the skills and opportunities to safely reintegrate into their communities. A justice system that prioritizes both accountability and redemption is best positioned to deliver these results for the people of Missouri.”