JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The state of the judiciary is strong, but the state of the criminal code? It needs some reform, Chief Justice Mary Russell said during the 40th annual state of the judiciary address on Wednesday.

Speaking to a joint session of the General Assembly, Russell – who was sworn in as chief justice last year – lauded efforts in the General Assembly to update the state’s aging criminal code. She noted that in the first state of the judiciary address in 1974, then-Chief Justice Donnelly called for reform to the criminal code, which had not been touched in more than a century.

“Another 35 years have passed, and I am glad you are considering another update so that our criminal justice system may better serve the state,” she said. “It is your prerogative to determine where the problems truly lie and what solutions are most appropriate.”

Russell noted that last year, 232 offenses were charged only one time. Another 130 were charged only twice. And in the state of Missouri, a drunk driver who kills someone could be charged with the same seven-year sentence that could be given to someone for writing a bad check of less than $500.

“I think we can all agree that some sensible efforts at streamlining our criminal code are warranted,” she said.

Efforts are already underway again this year in the General Assembly. Later on Wednesday, a Missouri Senate panel was set to hear a bill carried by Sen. Jolie Justus, D-Kansas City, that was kickstarted by an effort to reform the criminal code last session.

Russell praised the state’s court system for finding efficiencies (like efforts in Greene County to cut back on pre-trial costs) and ways to collect revenue that have brought in $26 million in revenue for the state.