Articles
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Criminal Justice
No-knock warrants: a primer
It seems to me that no-knock warrants are a policy directly contradicting the policy behind self-defense laws like the Castle Doctrine and “stand your ground laws.”Ryan Haynie | September 29, 2020
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Criminal Justice
COVID-19 rate up in prisons, but few get sick
In recent weeks, COVID-19 rates have surged in Oklahoma prisons, contributing significantly to higher overall rates in many counties across the state. But even as infection rates surged in prisons, resulting sickness from the virus has been minimal.Ray Carter | September 22, 2020
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Criminal Justice, Culture & the Family
Sober living through community
Tucked away in south Tulsa, on a street where residential homes have mostly been converted to commercial businesses, sits Sangha (pronounced SAHN-guh, Sanskrit for “community”). Sangha is a sober-living house that typically houses around six men working to kick addiction.Ryan Haynie & Kaitlyn Finley | September 15, 2020
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Criminal Justice
Does SQ 805 allow criminals to break into your home with impunity?
“Property crime” is an umbrella term that encompasses everything from destruction of property to robbery to embezzlement. Because SQ 805 would apply to many property crimes, it’s not uncommon for people to get confused about what that means.Ryan Haynie | September 10, 2020
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Criminal Justice
Myth vs. Fact: SQ 805 and sexual crimes
As it turns out, child prostitution and human trafficking are included on the list of violent offenses. They remain untouched by SQ 805.Ryan Haynie | September 4, 2020
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Criminal Justice
Open letter corrects the record on SQ 805, misuse of OCPA research
Staff | September 1, 2020
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Criminal Justice
Myth vs. Fact: SQ 805 and domestic violence
Each criminal law typically provides a sentencing range. In Oklahoma, a separate law allows “sentence enhancements” that can result in sentences much longer than the original range for many crimes—sometimes up to life in prison—if a person has prior convictions.Ryan Haynie | August 31, 2020
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Criminal Justice
Hate crimes create ‘thought police’
Oklahoma should consider repealing or striking down its hate crime statute. We shouldn’t ask law enforcement to be the Thought Police.Ryan Haynie | August 20, 2020
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Criminal Justice
Letting felons vote makes sense, sometimes
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds this week granted voting rights to about 40,000 convicted felons. For those convicted in Iowa of lower-level felonies, her order automatically restores their right to vote after their sentence is completed.Trent England | August 10, 2020
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Criminal Justice
COVID death in Oklahoma County jail highlights need for bail reform
With the Oklahoma County jail already overcrowded, it is irresponsible to detain Oklahomans pretrial unless they pose a specific threat to the public or are a significant flight risk.Ryan Haynie | August 7, 2020