Hiring, Diversion, Conviction Integrity Unit Highlighted

ST. LOUIS, MO (December 5, 2023) — Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore delivered a six-month progress report today, highlighting the hiring of attorneys with 120 years cumulative prosecutorial experience. He also emphasized the importance of investing in employees’ compensation and training; community engagement, expanded diversion programs, and the establishment of a Conviction Integrity Unit led by retired Missouri Supreme Court Judge George W. Draper III.

“The story of my first six months in this role has been one of people answering the call to public service, and collaboration with community partners in an effort to enhance public safety for the entire St. Louis region,” Gore said.

Gore said 24 attorneys have been hired since he was sworn in on May 30, 2023. They include 12 prosecutors who formerly worked in the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s office, and five experienced prosecutors from other offices throughout the region.

“These attorneys bring our office the benefit of 120 years of prosecutorial experience,” Gore said. “That is an enormous asset for this office and for the people in our community who have been the victims of violent crime.”

The Circuit Attorney’s office has hired 14 support staff, including victim advocates and paralegals to address a backlog of discovery. Other new hires include Leann Mosby, Director of Community Engagement, and veteran journalist Christine Bertelson as Public Information Officer.

Gore said he continues to collaborate with St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones’ office on technology and budget issues. He also has been invited by the Board of Aldermen to make a presentation to the Public Safety Committee.

The office is making steady progress in addressing a backlog of 250 homicides and about 6,700 cases pending in the warrant office, which had been closed by the prior Circuit Attorney as a result of disputes with police. Of those 250 pending homicides, the office has disposed of 53 cases and issued 37 new cases.

“We have met with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and next-of-kin in about 25 cases that we believe merit a second look,” Gore said. “We are in the process of interviewing witnesses and examining evidence to determine whether these cases can still be prosecuted.”

From June 1 to Dec. 1 of this year, the office charged about 2,650 new cases, compared to 1,460 charged during the same period of 2022 – a 45 percent increase.

Gore said his vision for the future will be focused on four areas: investing in people; community engagement; diversion, and the establishment of a Conviction Integrity Unit.

“To successfully recruit and retain talented attorneys, we must increase compensation so that we are at least commensurate with neighboring prosecutors’ offices,” Gore said.

Outside training programs, and the hiring of Draper as Chief Training Officer in October, will accelerate the learning curve of new attorneys.

Community engagement initiatives, led by Mosby, are essential to identify current community concerns, build trust, forge strong relationships between the public and the Circuit Attorney’s office, and could help dismantle the “no-snitch” culture that impedes witnesses from assisting police and prosecutors.

Many, if not most people charged with non-violent crimes have the potential to make changes in their lives and exit the criminal justice system permanently, Gore said. A sweeping reorganization of the office’s diversion programs, and added staffing, will make it possible for many more individuals to participate in diversion as an alternative to incarceration.

“When I took office, there were fewer than 40 participants in all our diversion programs and partnerships with the Circuit Court,” Gore said. “In next six months, we anticipate that there will be about 300 participants in our felony and misdemeanor diversion programs. In addition, we will be much more active in utilizing our the 22^nd Judicial Circuit’s Treatment Courts.”

In addition to his role as Chief Training Officer, Judge Draper will lead the office’s new Conviction Integrity Unit. Its function will be to investigate claims of innocence and prevent, identify, and remedy wrongful convictions.

“With the continued dedication of our attorneys and staff, ongoing collaboration with local leaders and law enforcement, and the support of our community partners, I am confident that we can restore the public’s trust in this office and improve public safety,” Gore said.

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