COLUMBIA (AP) – The new leader of the Missouri prosecutors’ association says more needs to be done to assist crime victims.

Boone County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Knight recently took over as president of the Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys.

Knight says that fewer than half of Missouri’s counties have advocates based in prosecutor’s offices to help crime victims. He says that’s “woefully inadequate” and that prosecutors must do more to ensure crime victims’ rights are protected.

Over the next year, Knight says the organization also plans to outline best practices for law enforcement investigations and prosecutions.