Missouri State Rep. Steven Roberts Jr.: A Closer Look at HB 1996

Missouri State Rep. Steven Roberts Jr. takes the opportunity to serve his district and the people of Missouri seriously. As the representative of the 77^th District, Roberts looks forward to advocating for the best interests of all Missourians, and for standing up and fighting for the most vulnerable populations throughout the state.

During the legislature’s most recent session, Rep. Roberts introduced HB 1996 – a bill that would necessitate gender and racial bias training as part of basic peace officer training to include specific instruction on identity and racial profiling. This bill specified that this new training curriculum would take a look at evidence-based protocols, practices and patterns that make up identity and racial profiling – as well as to prescribe any protocols, practices and patterns that help prevent such profiling from taking place.

In addition, HB 1996 would establish the “Racial and Identity Profiling Advisory Board,” which, in conjunction with the POST commission (Peace Officer Standards and Training), would work not only to eliminate these types of profiling, but to also improve racial sensitivity and diversity in law enforcement.

Rep. Steven Roberts St Louis of Missouri State first introduced this bill on January 9, 2018. It was referred to the Crime Prevention and Public Safety Committee in May of 2018.