Articles
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Criminal Justice
Sentencing reform clears Oklahoma Senate
Legislation updating Oklahoma’s sentencing code has won easy passage in the Oklahoma Senate.Ray Carter | March 24, 2022
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Criminal Justice
Sentencing reform headed to full Senate
A major overhaul of Oklahoma’s sentencing laws now awaits a vote from the full state Senate after it gained approval in two committees.Ray Carter | March 4, 2022
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Criminal Justice
Oklahoma expungement measure advances
Legislation that would automatically expunge the criminal record of low-level offenders who have served their time, increasing the likelihood they are able to obtain future employment, has passed unanimously out of a state House committee.Ray Carter | February 18, 2022
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Criminal Justice
Sentencing reform advances, but lawmakers wary
Legislation to address disparities in Oklahoma’s sentencing laws, and indirectly lower the incarceration rate, has advanced from a state Senate committee, but lawmakers expressed concern about the complexity of a broad-based overhaul.Ray Carter | February 16, 2022
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Criminal Justice, Good Government
McGirt helping Aryan Brotherhood, harming Indians?
Oklahomans have been assured tribal police help provide a “blanket of protection” for all citizens despite the McGirt ruling. But state law enforcement officials tell a different story and say McGirt has created a blanket of protection mostly for criminals, including a member of the Universal Aryan Brotherhood.Ray Carter | October 25, 2021
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Criminal Justice
Public safety, sentencing reform not incompatible
Members of the Criminal Justice Reclassification Coordination Council want Oklahomans to think the only way to reduce the state prison population and its taxpayer expense is to let predators walk free. That’s verifiable nonsense that should be rejected.Jonathan Small | October 13, 2021
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Criminal Justice
Contrasting estimates presented on sentencing reform plan
After a lengthy development process, officials have presented lawmakers with a proposed overhaul of sentencing laws in Oklahoma.Ray Carter | October 7, 2021
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Criminal Justice
Expungement reform can promote safety and personal responsibility
Data and a growing number of officials are finding that allowing certain people to expunge their criminal records results in less crime and greater personal responsibility.Jonathan Small | September 13, 2021
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Criminal Justice
Expungement reform touted as way to reduce crime
If the Oklahoma government allows automatic expungement of certain lower-level criminal convictions, it will help people who have served their sentences to again become productive members of society and make them less likely to reoffend, a panel of experts told state lawmakers during an interim study.Ray Carter | August 31, 2021
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Criminal Justice
Abuse of tribal police alleged in Cherokee Nation
Many Cherokees indicate their tribal police have too often been used as political enforcers rather than as law-enforcement officials.Ray Carter | August 30, 2021