Former state senator Ralph Shortey was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to child sex trafficking.

Louisiana and Oklahoma are both trying to reduce their prison populations and lower the costs of their justice systems. Louisiana is seeing good results. Many of Oklahoma’s reforms haven’t gone into effect, but experts predict they’ll have a limited effect.

The Oklahoma City Council held a public hearing on an ordinance that would end jail sentences for simple possession of marijuana if adopted.

Marsy’s Law would make several changes to the state constitution. The campaign’s goal is to expand victims’ rights in Oklahoma and put them on more equal footing with criminal defendants.

For Luper, it was a trip to New York with her students that galvanized her fight against segregation.

So far, four of the seven people who escaped minimum security prisons in 2018 ran from Jess Dunn Correctional Center in Taft — a town with no police force.

A nonprofit helping mothers avoid prison and recover from addiction also helps them rebuild relationships with their children.

Director Allbaugh discussed a number of issues including criminal justice reform, the Department of Corrections’ budget, developing guidelines for inert gas executions and unsafe conditions in Oklahoma prisons.

The Oklahomans are five of 601 people the U.S. Department of Justice announced it had taken actions against in a nationwide crackdown on similar crimes. 

Law enforcement agencies around the state say medical marijuana poses real safety concerns. If State Question 788 passes, they want strong rules to govern medical marijuana use.