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Rep. Wesley Bell is bringing lessons from his years in local government and law enforcement to his push for criminal justice reform in Congress.
During the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's 55th Annual Legislative Conference, the Missouri Democrat reflected on his path from serving on the Ferguson City Council to becoming St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney and, eventually, representing Missouri's 1st Congressional District.
Bell's entry into elected office came after the 2014 police killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson and the protests that followed. He said his approach to public service has remained rooted in listening to communities and finding alternatives to policies that aren't working.
As St. Louis County prosecutor, Bell expanded diversion programs designed to connect eligible people accused of lower-level offenses with services addressing substance use, mental health and other underlying needs rather than relying solely on incarceration.
Bell previously reported that participants in his office's diversion programs had a re-offense rate below 8%.
Now in Congress, he's working to expand that approach nationally. Bell introduced the Justice Forward Agenda, which includes legislation that would provide federal support for community-based diversion, pretrial services, treatment and rehabilitation programs. He also co-chairs the Congressional Diversion and Rehabilitation Caucus.
Bell said he believes effective public safety requires addressing the circumstances that can contribute to people entering or repeatedly returning to the criminal justice system.
The congressman also discussed the relationship between the courts and civil rights, including voting rights protections. Bell has made voting access part of his congressional agenda and hosted a voting rights roundtable in Missouri this summer.
A former college professor, Bell also addressed education and the importance of allowing classrooms to remain spaces where students can encounter different ideas and engage in critical thinking.
For Bell, his work in Congress represents a continuation of the community-focused approach he says has guided him throughout his career.
Listen to the full conversation below!
For more of our interviews from the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 55th Annual Legislative Conference, check out Our Voices!
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