JEFFERSON CITY, Mo -- Think of the criminal code as more of an encyclopedia of crime and punishment.
The code defines what makes a crime, who commits it and what kind of sentence it deserves.
Examples of what could change include a new class of crimes relating to marijuana and synthetic drugs, and raising the minimum age of the death penalty from 16 to 18.
Lawmakers say it's still a work in progress, and you can still make a difference in how Missouri modernizes the state court system - even if you're not a lawyer.
"I certainly appreciate those who work in the law profession, but the everyday citizen who has gone through the process as a victim of someone who's accused or had someone in their family," says Sen. Bob Dixon (R-Springfield). "I'd like to hear their stories and see how code relates to everyday scenarios."
Dixon says the proposed bill covering the criminal code is more than 1,200 pages long. Debates will continue through the rest of this year's legislative session, but he doesn't expect a vote until 2014.
