Criminal Justice

Governor’s task force offers another chance at justice reform

Corrections-reform advocates didn't get all they wanted in the 2019 legislative session, but officials are hopeful that the 15-member RESTORE Task Force, created by Governor Kevin Stitt via an executive order, will have more success.

Ray Carter
June 17, 2019
Criminal Justice

Criminal justice reform: What passed, and what’s next for Oklahoma?

This session the Oklahoma legislature passed a handful of bills aimed at reforming the state’s criminal justice system. Governor Stitt’s new task force will propose additional criminal justice reform efforts next session.

Kaitlyn Finley
June 6, 2019
Criminal Justice

Bail bill rejected in House

Members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives rejected legislation Wednesday that would have allowed more criminal suspects to be released from jail without bail after critics said it would lead to more crime and the bill’s author admitted he did not know how much the measure would increase taxpayer costs.

Ray Carter
May 23, 2019
Criminal Justice

A Primer: Oklahoma’s criminal justice system

Oklahoma’s incarceration rate has risen to number one in the nation. This overuse of incarceration has significant financial and social costs. Oklahoma lawmakers are considering reforms aimed at reducing incarceration rates.

Kaitlyn Finley
May 16, 2019
Criminal Justice

Trump cited as model for Oklahoma on corrections

A former inmate freed as the result of a federal corrections-reform law championed by President Donald Trump urged state lawmakers to follow the president’s lead and enact similar reforms in Oklahoma.

Ray Carter
May 2, 2019
Criminal Justice

Corrections system is in crisis, officials say

Policymakers warn a crisis is brewing in Oklahoma’s prison system, and even if correction reform measures drive down some costs, the need to upgrade the system could remain.

Ray Carter
April 11, 2019
Criminal Justice

Senate Bill 421 would bring clarity, consistency to drug laws

Senate Bill 421 seeks to reform Oklahoma’s criminal justice system by standardizing some of Oklahoma’s drug possession laws and reducing the maximum sentencing for those convicted of certain drug-related crimes.

Kaitlyn Finley
March 1, 2019

Gov. Stitt: ‘Are we done? Absolutely not’

Ray Carter
July 8, 2019

OEA membership down 16 percent over five years

Ray Carter
July 1, 2019

Scholarship tax credit accounts for a tiny fraction of Oklahoma’s total tax credits

Curtis Shelton
July 16, 2019
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