Jackson County prosecutor vaunts high convictions, case filings in annual report
Jackson County prosecutor Melesa Johnson is boasting of increases in charging cases, conviction rates and law enforcement partnerships through her first year in the position in an annual report released Friday.
Since taking over the role previously held by long time prosecutor Jean Peters Baker, Johnson’s office has filed charges in 73% of cases referred to them in 2025, a 6% increase from 2024. Conviction rates reached nearly 70%, an 8% increase compared to 2024, with some months reaching conviction rates as high as 76%, the office said in the report.
In December, prosecutors hit a nearly 90% case filing rate.
Johnson’s office also saw a 14% increase in case referrals from law enforcement compared to 2024, which indicates strong collaboration with law enforcement partners, the report said.
“In 2025, we focused on reestablishing a code of conduct and accountability in our community,” Johnson said in a statement. “We charged more cases, built stronger partnerships with law enforcement, and implemented innovative strategies for prosecution that are already delivering promising results.”
The prosecutor’s office saw major increases in domestic violence referrals after Johnson changed policy to direct law enforcement and municipal prosecutors to send the office more cases, the report stated.
Prosecutors filed 70% of domestic assault cases submitted to the office, an increase of 16% from 2024. Nearly 80% of intimate partner violence cases received were filed, compared to 61% in 2024.
Cases filed concerning crimes against children also saw a vast improvement, they said.
Domestic assaults against children saw a nearly 90% increase in cases filed and a 75% increase in law enforcement referrals from 2024 to 2025. Child abuse and child sexual abuse cases had a 23% increase in filings compared to 2024.
Diversion courts also saw high graduation rates.
Veterans court, a voluntary treatment program for veterans with a municipal court violation, graduated 100% of its participants. Mental health court saw an 88% graduation rate, while the New Start program graduated 89% of participants.
Plans for 2026
The prosecutor’s office has several plans in the works for 2026.
The office plans to launch a defendant survey initiative to better understand the root causes of crime. The survey will encompass questions about the defendant’s living conditions, such as education level, housing and mental health conditions, and access to healthcare.
“With this data, we will invest in organizations that target the major factors the defendants pointed to as contributors to their criminal behavior,” the report stated.
Johnson’s office also plans to invest millions more in diversion programs, including a “major enhancement” to the New Start program, slated for this summer.
An expungement program is also in the works, with the office citing legalized marijuana making this program “especially critical.” The program, funded by a grant from the Health Forward Foundation, is aimed to help those people clear convictions that are no longer criminal under Missouri law.
“Looking ahead to 2026, we will continue our commitment to accountability, while also prioritizing strategies to help lift people out of a life of crime,” Johnson said.
