The recent release of more than 460 prisoners is a positive step towards reducing the state’s excessive incarceration rate, say local attorneys
—
On Nov. 4, 2019, the state of Oklahoma released 462 prisoners convicted of felony drug possession and other non-violent crimes. The releases stemmed from two state ballot measures passed in 2016 that reclassified non-violent drug and property crimes as misdemeanors. An additional 65 sentences have been commuted, and those prisoners are scheduled to be released later on. Thanks to this change in state law, Oklahoma is no longer the state with the highest incarceration rate in the U.S., a distinction now held by Louisiana.
The 2016 ballot measures had strong bipartisan support, with both Democrats and Republicans in agreement on the excessive cost of mass incarceration. According to a statement by the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board, the release of the prisoners saved the state approximately $11,900,000, figuring an average cost of $48 per day per inmate. Not only do the commuted sentences save expenses, but they allow the released prisoners to rejoin the work force and contribute to the state economy through income and sales taxes.
Furthermore, there is a growing body of research demonstrating that long prison sentences neither reduce crime nor keep the public safer. Based on data from 2008 to 2016, The Pew Charitable Trust reported an 11% decrease in incarceration in the U.S. and a 23% drop in violent crime and property crime over the same period. Other factors motivating efforts to decrease incarceration included a concern over racial disparities in sentencing, disproportionate incarceration of women, and over-crowded conditions in prisons.
By reclassifying certain felony criminal charges as misdemeanors, Oklahoma is following a national trend; however, many feel that more progress needs to be made. While the releases had a huge impact on the lives of the prisoners and their families, the overall picture of incarceration in Oklahoma did not change significantly. After the release of the 462 prisoners, the state’s incarceration rate dropped from 667.8 to 656.4 per 100,000, well above the national average.
Still, local attorneys are cautiously optimistic that Oklahoma will continue on a path to reducing its prison population, not only by putting fewer people in prison in the first place, but by reducing the length of sentences for non-violent crimes. A local bipartisan group is introducing a new ballot initiative that would prevent courts from considering a defendant’s past convictions in non-violent cases. If this new initiative passes, Oklahoma prisons may see a more significant decline in their populations.
Bail is another criminal justice issue that is currently being debated. A bail bond reform bill, SB 252, failed to pass the House earlier this year. The bill would have placed a limit on the amount of bail set for misdemeanors in order to reduce jail time for people awaiting trial. Supporters of the bill argued that bail unfairly penalizes low-income defendants, who are likely to spend months in jail without a conviction and lose their jobs as a result. The bail bond reform lobby remains strong, and state lawmakers are continuing to negotiate on a compromise.
Efforts to reduce incarceration in Oklahoma are having a positive impact on attorneys and their clients. A criminal defense attorney in Oklahoma will now have more leeway in helping clients charged with non-violent crimes avoid prison. In many cases, an attorney can get non-violent drug charges reduced or dismissed altogether. Defense lawyers agree that when defendants are facing misdemeanor rather than felony charges, both the individual and the justice system itself have better prospects.
Contact Info:
Name: Robert Goins
Email: Send Email
Organization: Tulsa Criminal Lawyers Law Office
Website: http://tulsa-criminallawyers.com/
Source: MarketersMEDIA
Release ID: 88934357
