Articles

Most Oklahomans are aware of the problems facing our prison system. It’s growing every year because we’re consistently bringing in more people than we are releasing, with receptions in 2014 totaling 10,720 and releases totaling 8,958. Our prison facilities are overcrowded. They are currently at 104.2 percent operational capacity, which includes all the common areas that have been outfitted with additional beds. Our facilities are staffed at less than 67 percent, which, according to a 2013 survey, earned Oklahoma the distinction of having the worst staff-to-inmate ratio in the country. An Associated Press investigation revealed that Oklahoma led the nation with 39 prison inmate homicides during the period from 2001 to 2012, a rate that was more than triple the national average.

The saying goes, “those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” This describes many of humanity’s worst actions, especially against other humans.

It’s time to make Oklahoma better by getting people back to work and families back together.

When a person gets convicted of a crime, how much time should he or she spend in prison? When talking about Oklahoma’s criminal justice system, how do we define and measure success?

Being tough on crime means being willing to ask whether or not we are doing it right—and changing course if the facts suggest that a change is necessary. Many states have demonstrated that specific, targeted reforms in sentencing, alternative programming, and reentry are the keys to success.

In November of 2014, the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs released its 2015 Freedom Agenda. This document details the most significant public policy prescriptions we believe are vital to make lives better for Oklahomans.

Reducing crime and punishing criminals are basic functions of government. Yet Oklahoma’s corrections system is failing. Costs are soaring. The system is badly overcrowded.

The State of Oklahoma faces projected prison growth and associated costs if its policies are not changed. Oklahoma's prison population is projected to grow to 28,345 by 2011. Fortunately, there are alternatives to spending more on prisons.

In PR terms, recent months have been tough for America's trial lawyers. But not as tough as the mayhem inflicted on Oklahoma's economy as we lag behind the rest of the country in lawsuit reform.