The Metropolis Sentinel Workers Report
OKLAHOMA CITY – Kris Steele, govt director with Oklahomans for Felony Justice Reform (OCJR), launched the next assertion in response to the current passage of Senate Invoice 334 within the Oklahoma Home of Representatives:
“Oklahoma lawmakers have taken a step backwards on legal justice reform right now by passing Senate Invoice (S.B.) 334, sending the invoice again to the Senate.
“S.B. 334 will roll again sure elements of State Query 780, which reclassified low-level property offenses to misdemeanors. It’ll double the size of time wherein prosecutors can mixture a number of property offenses to create a felony offense.
“It’ll value Oklahoma taxpayers about $20,000 a 12 months to incarcerate an individual convicted of stealing $1,000 value of things. S.B. 334 will solely result in extra felony expenses, longer sentences and can enhance our jail inhabitants. Analysis has proven that this won’t enhance public security nor deter crime.
“The passage of S.B. 334 goes straight towards the need of the voters who handed SQ 780 into legislation and nonetheless help it right now. Latest polling from WPA Intelligence reveals 69 % of Oklahomans need legal justice reform and 76 % proceed to help State Query 780.
“Justice reform advocates throughout the state are deeply dissatisfied within the passage of this invoice. The invoice now heads again to the Senate, and we urge the Senate to not go S.B. 334 and as an alternative focus its efforts on coverage that improves public security and invests in therapy and rehabilitation.”
Introducing Steele’s feedback in a press launch, OCJR employees summarized the doubtless impression of S.B. 334, if enacted, saying the measure “damages the impression of prior legal justice reforms that safely cut back Oklahoma’s jail inhabitants and reinvest in options.”
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