A serious challenge facing missouri's criminal justice system is the retention of dedicated and qualified prosecutors and public defenders

The Missouri Office of Prosecution Services was awarded a $118,442 Formula Grant under the U.S. Department of Justice's John R. Justice Prosecutors and Defenders Incentive Act (CFDA 16.816) program on October 1, 2023. The grant funding will be used to administer the John R. Justice Student Loan Repayment Program, which provides student loan repayment assistance to help retain qualified state and local prosecutors as well as state and federal public defenders in Missouri. The Office of Prosecution Services will screen applications, select sub-awardees, and distribute the loan repayment assistance based on criteria such as financial need and length of public service. The goal is to ensure dedicated and experienced criminal justice practitioners remain available to prosecute and defend cases in Missouri, thereby improving the administration of justice and public safety. The program has previously provided an average of approximately 8 awards per year, and the increased funding is expected to result in a greater number of larger awards with a more significant impact on sub-awardees' ability to continue working in the criminal justice system.

Many prosecutors and public defenders find IT difficult to enter into or remain in these positions because of the pressure of student loan repayment demands. Shortages of qualified candidates willing to accept the lower salaries available in these public sector positions creates excessive caseloads which can affect public safety, the administration of justice and the rights of individuals involved in the system. Missouri plans to administer the john R. Justice student loan repayment program to assist repayments of student loan debt for state and local prosecutors, and state and federal public defenders who commit to maintain their employment in those positions for a minimum of three years. The targeted sub-awardees are attorneys in the current employment of the various prosecuting attorneys and city prosecutors offices, and the offices of both the state and federal public defender systems. The funds will be fairly distributed among prosecutors and defenders and will be distributed based on "the least ability to repay", along with other criteria such as the debt size and length of service in the public criminal justice sector. Top consideration will be given to applicants with the least ability to pay and those who have received previous awards and who have fewer than three years remaining on their jrjslrp service agreement. Missouri office of prosecution services (MOPS) has established a partnership with the missouri state public defender to screen applications, with assistance from representatives of the attorney general and with assistance from the federal public defenders will review and select sub-awardees. These agencies have worked collaboratively on the program in the past. Although the numbers of prosecutors and defenders in the state have steadily increased over the last five years, the number of applicants for jrjslrp sub-awards has declined, based on informal surveys, this has been due to the limited amount granted to sub-awardees being insufficient to allow the service commitment to remain in these positions. Over the previous four years, there have been an average of approximately eight awards made. With an increase in funds, IT is expected that an increased number of awards may be made and larger awards granted, and those awards having a significantly greater impact on the sub-awardees' ability to remain in the criminal justice arena, thereby ensuring that dedicated and experienced practitioners will continue to be available to prosecute and defend in missouri.