State Question 805 News Today

Quinton Chandler / StateImpact Oklahoma Oklahoma has made some big changes to its justice system in recent years. Activists and lawmakers proposed big picture reforms and some of the suggestions succeeded. Voters decided to give more lenient sentences to people convicted of drug possession and certain low level property crimes in 2016. Lawmakers extended those benefits to some people convicted of the same crimes before the law changed. Lawmakers also made granting state prisoners parole eas...

Steele: Criminal justice reform must continue through Legislature Kris Steele Oklahoma continued on its criminal justice reform journey last year with State Question 805. While the result was not what we had hoped for, over 500,000 Oklahomans voiced their support to end extreme sentences for individuals convicted of nonviolent offenses, make better use of state resources and increase investments in treatment, mental health care and services for survivors. Since Election Day, this statewide move...