Legislators concluded this year’s session after only passing one reform bill that could directly affect the size of the state’s prison population, but experts aren’t sure how much. Three Oklahoma voters said they want to see more progress.
The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled the Legislature has authority to block lawsuits against governments operating jails and detention centers. The ruling follows legal actions spawned after an Oklahoma man was badly beaten in a county jail.
Despite voter support for criminal justice reforms, lawmakers only passed one bill that could affect prison population growth frustrating Department of Corrections employees and agency budgets.
StateImpact followed legislators’ actions on education, criminal justice reform, Medicaid expansion and abortion.
Oklahoma City Police shot a 14-year-old boy who was playing with a B.B. gun. Police say the shooting was justified. The boy’s attorney claims his civil rights were violated.
Gov. Stitt lent support to several criminal justice reform initiative currently under consideration in the Legislature as well as some ideas that haven’t advanced.
The Oklahoma Department of Health and the State Fire Marshal inspect local jails every year. But the inspections are only as effective as the rules they’re based on. Just because a jail passes inspection — doesn’t mean it’s completely safe.
An Oklahoma County advisory council recommended that county officials create a separate body to supervise the Oklahoma County Jail.
A county sheriff resigned to protest a judge’s order to bring prisoners back to a jail she says is underfunded and dangerous. Low funding is a problem county sheriffs across the state have to overcome.
