The Briefing Room
State Chapters => State Politics/Government => Topic started by: TomSea on November 04, 2019, 11:17:22 pm
-
Oklahoma freeing 527 from prison; state officials call it largest single-day commutation in U.S. history
by Kim Bellware The Washington Post
Oklahoma is preparing to release 527 people today who are serving low-level drug and nonviolent offenses in what the state's lawmakers are calling the largest single-day commutation in both state and U.S. history.
The commutation is a success for criminal justice change efforts in a state that has a long history of harsh sentencing practices and high incarceration rates. It's also evidence of the Republican-dominated Legislature's willingness to move closer in line with the majority of voters who favor a less punitive approach. The historic commutations come amid nationwide efforts to reduce punishment of low-level crimes and move the U.S. prison system in a more rehabilitative -- or at least less punitive -- direction.
Criminal justice change advocates like Ryan Kiesel, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma, agreed that the commutation news signaled a change but cautioned that the road ahead will be a long one.
Error 404 (Not Found)!!1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCivIM8ORWw#)
Read more at: https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2019/nov/04/oklahoma-freeing-527-from-prison-201911/ (https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2019/nov/04/oklahoma-freeing-527-from-prison-201911/)
So, prisoners with "non-violent" offenses, the video describes it a bit.l
-
So, prisoners with "non-violent" offenses, the video describes it a bit.l
This ought to work out well......
-
This ought to work out well......
I sincerely hope to be proven wrong, but that was my first thought when reading of this. Just like CA's Proposition 47 unleashed a crime wave - it released many felons and raising the bar for what constitutes a felony.