Repealing Missouri ban on food stamps for people with drug felonies would improve public safety

People with drug felonies on their criminal record are uniquely excluded from receiving benefits in Missouri from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps, after they are released from prison. This deprivation of SNAP benefits is solely because of their categorization as a former drug felon. This treatment of people charged with drug crimes — and not people with any other type of criminal record — is inconsistent with other ways in which Missouri promotes public safety in aiming to reduce recidivism post-incarceration.