Mid-Missouri Legal Services (MMLS) delivers legal services to eleven (11) counties in central Missouri. Due to unique challenges of serving a primarily rural area, MMLS has developed a plan to use volunteers in a variety of ways to expand the reach and effectiveness of the program. MMLS takes into consideration the input from segments of the client community, private attorneys, and bar associations in the development of its annual Private Attorney Involvement (PAI) Plan. Any responses to MMLS’s Proposed 2024 Private Attorney Involvement Plan can be submitted to dunhamk@mmls.org.”  You can view the 2026        MMLS PAI Plan at this link:  MMLS 2026 PAI Plan

Donations to MMLS

 You can make a donation to MMLS at mid-missouri-legal-services-corporation-6/.  MMLS provides free legal assistance and legal information to low-income mid-Missourians and domestic and sexual violence survivors who would otherwise not be able to afford an attorney or access courts on their own. Access to legal services makes a difference in the safety, health, and financial security of families in our communities. But a recent study showed that low-income Americans go without any or sufficient legal services for 92% of their civil legal problems. Legal Services Corporation. (2022, April). The justice gap: The unmet civil legal needs of low-income Americans. https://justicegap.lsc.gov/the-report/.  Your support in any amount you can give is greatly appreciated and can help us close the justice gap.

No petition required for most ‘Amendment 3’ marijuana expungements

Missouri voters approved “Amendment 3” in the recent election to legalize recreational marijuana. The amendment to Article XIV of the Missouri Constitution takes effect on December 8, 2022. The amendment legalizes possession and use of marijuana for those 21 and older and establishes a licensing scheme for legal production and sale.

The new law requires the courts to expunge eligible marijuana offenses without requiring a petition. Under the constitutional amendment, Missouri’s circuit courts must order expungement of all misdemeanor marijuana offenses in cases where the person has completed any sentence by the court by no later than June 8, 2023. Missouri courts must order expungement of all eligible felony marijuana offenses, where the sentence is complete, by no later than December 8, 2023.

Offenses that involve distribution to a minor, offenses involving violence, and offenses for operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of marijuana are excluded.

People who are currently incarcerated on marijuana offenses can petition for expungement. The amendment provides that no fees can be charged for those petitions and requires the public defender’s office to create a form people can use to ask for expungement without representation from an attorney.

Mid-Missouri Legal Services provides representation to eligible people seeking expungement. While MMLS is not able to represent people who are currently incarcerated, MMLS can provide advice about the automatic expungement process under Amendment 3. Expungements under the new law may make it easier for people to seek expungement of other offenses on their records.