OKLAHOMA CITY — Four criminal justice reform measures were signed into law by Gov. Mary Fallin on Wednesday.
The action comes at a time when the state’s prison system is operating at 122 percent of capacity.
Barbara Hoberock 405-528-2465
Criminal justice reform bills signed into law by Oklahoma governor
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Prison
Fewer people may be going to prison as a result of criminal justice reform bills that were signed into law Wednesday. Tulsa World file
Posted: Thursday, April 28, 2016 12:01 am | Updated: 1:25 am, Thu Apr 28, 2016.
Posted in Capitol report, News, Government, Staff, Barbarahoberock, Local, State, Homepagelatest on Thursday, April 28, 2016 12:01 am. Updated: 1:25 am. | Tags:
Capitol Report overview: This site is home to all of the Tulsa World's reporting on the Oklahoma Legislature.
Capitol Bureau Chief Barbara Hoberock: Hoberock has covered the statehouse since 1994. She covers the legislature, state agencies, elections and appellate courts. She has nearly three decades of journalism experience. Hoberock was part of a team covering the April 19, 1995, bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building and the trials of Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols..
Staff Writer Randy Krehbiel: Born and raised in Oklahoma, Krehbiel is in his fourth decade of reporting on his home state. He has been at the Tulsa World since 1979.
House of Represenatives
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Term limits: State House members serve two-year terms. Senators serve four-year terms. The state Constitution limits lawmakers to 12 years total service in the House and Senate. Seven House members and four Senators are term-limited:
Salaries: Lawmakers who live outside of the Oklahoma City metro receive $148 a day in per diem for each day the Legislature is in session. They also receive mileage reimbursement, a benefit allowance and retirement benefits. Legislators can opt out of the state health insurance program, but few have done so.
The calendar: The first session of the 54th Oklahoma Legislature convenes at noon Feb. 3 with Gov. Mary Fallin’s State of the State address. Fallin also will present her proposed budget for the year. The Legislature must adjourn by 5 p.m. May 30.
Capitol Bureau Chief Barbara Hoberock: Hoberock has covered the statehouse since 1994. She covers the legislature, state agencies, elections and appellate courts. She has nearly three decades of journalism experience. Hoberock was part of a team covering the April 19, 1995, bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building and the trials of Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols..
Staff Writer Randy Krehbiel: Born and raised in Oklahoma, Krehbiel is in his fourth decade of reporting on his home state. He has been at the Tulsa World since 1979.
House of Represenatives
Find your legislator, by address: Click this link to enter your address and find your legislators and congressmen.
Contact your legislator: See a list of House members, districts and phone numbers and email address.
Senate
Find your Senator:
Contact your legislator: See a list of Senate members, districts and phone numbers and email address.
Term limits: State House members serve two-year terms. Senators serve four-year terms. The state Constitution limits lawmakers to 12 years total service in the House and Senate. Seven House members and four Senators are term-limited:
Salaries: Lawmakers who live outside of the Oklahoma City metro receive $148 a day in per diem for each day the Legislature is in session. They also receive mileage reimbursement, a benefit allowance and retirement benefits. Legislators can opt out of the state health insurance program, but few have done so.
The calendar: The first session of the 54th Oklahoma Legislature convenes at noon Feb. 3 with Gov. Mary Fallin’s State of the State address. Fallin also will present her proposed budget for the year. The Legislature must adjourn by 5 p.m. May 30.
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Welcome to the discussion.
4 comments:
ML Wells posted at 12:15 pm on Thu, Apr 28, 2016.
"...HB 2275, which allows for the collection of a DNA sample from a suspect upon arrest for a felony offense. The samples are to be destroyed if the charges are dismissed or the person is not convicted." The only bill I strongly disagreed with ... why should taxpayers incur the costs of DNA testing BEFORE a defendant is convicted - THEN incur the costs of "destroying" the sample?
William Dusenberry posted at 12:02 pm on Thu, Apr 28, 2016.
Long-term convicts -- should be sent to Red Cross-supervised, prisons -- in third-world nations.
Cut the USA's prison costs, by about 75%.
Hans Palmer posted at 11:37 am on Thu, Apr 28, 2016.
There are currently about 23 'Violent' crimes that require a person serve 85% of their sentence before being eligible for parole - their parole is almost always denied. These prisoners almost always serve 100% of their sentences. These laws were designed to fill the prisons and keep them full - Inmates are Oklahoma's cash crop. Prisons and inmates create jobs and revenue in broke towns and counties.
"Fallin said it costs just under $20,000 a year to incarcerate an offender and about $5,000 a year for one defendant in drug court." ... Drug Court, Mental Health Court - Whatever - These are 'virtual' prison and require that the defendants PAY and PAY and PAY to stay out of jail. If they don't pay, they get locked up. It only helps the courts make payroll.
By reducing a few mandatory minimum sentencing penalties - again only designed to fill the prisons - more people can be funneled into the 'Pay to stay out of prison' programs. This is good incentive to arrest, charge, convict - and INVOICE - people who need help and rehabilitation - to FUND the BROKEN SYSTEM!
It's all how you SPIN it! Fix THE SYSTEM!
Herbert Bell posted at 4:55 am on Thu, Apr 28, 2016.
Good Start. Keep Going