Melissa Price Smith Pledges Harsher Sentencing for Gun Crimes

Keeping our community safe is the core responsibility of a Prosecutor. That is why my office has made an important change in how we handle gun crimes in St. Louis County. Moving forward, we will no longer offer probation for crimes committed with a gun. When a firearm is used to harm or threaten others, accountability must reflect the seriousness of that choice.

This approach is about protecting families, preventing future violence, and setting clear expectations. Public safety works best when standards are consistent and consequences are meaningful.