Mass shootings in Texas and Ohio have put gun deaths and firearm laws back in the spotlight. This Q&A provides some of the Oklahoma facts you need to know.
Strangulation of Women Is Common, Chilling – and Often a Grim Harbinger
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Strangulation of women is a persistent and increasingly reported form of violence in Oklahoma, with hundreds of cases reported annually. It is not always fatal, but it is terrifying, can cause long-term injuries and is known to be a precursor to homicide.
Five Questions Surrounding Criminal Justice Reform Bills
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This year’s criminal justice reform measures include changing bail bonds, making State Question 780 retroactive and giving greater clarity to prosecutors on when to charge drug possession with intent to distribute. Here are five questions surrounding the bills.
Video: ‘Watch-Out’ Forum on Guns in Oklahoma
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Panelists at an “Oklahoma Watch-Out” forum clashed over a wide range of issues related to whether more gun rights or gun restrictions should be passed in Oklahoma. Watch the video.
Upcoming ‘Watch-Out’ Forum: The Gun Debate
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Oklahoma Watch will sponsor a public forum April 23 on the issue of gun rights versus gun controls, featuring panelists from two organizations with opposing views.
Pardon and Parole Board Approves First Inmates for Streamlined Parole
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The state Pardon and Parole Board on Wednesday approved the first group of inmates for a new, streamlined parole. The process, called administrative parole, could be a first measure of how much a board composed mostly of Gov. Kevin Stitt’s appointees will embrace changes intended to relieve Oklahoma’s overcrowded prisons.
Auditors to Prosecutors: Hire Collection Agency to Recover Unpaid Fees From Offenders
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Oklahoma district attorneys have more than $56 million in uncollected fees on their books and are being advised they should hire collection agencies to go after offenders to recover more of the debt. But aggressive collections could collide with criminal justice reform efforts.
The Invisibles: Out of Prison and Reconstructing a Life
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Every month, hundreds of inmates who’ve served their time are released from prisons across Oklahoma. But rebuilding a life is challenging. Robin Wertz, who spent years in prison, talks about her experiences and how, as site director at Exodus House, she helps former inmates re-integrate into society. This video launches our series titled “The Invisibles.”
In Unannounced Move, Oklahoma Jails Begin Collecting DNA from Arrestees
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With no announcement, law enforcement agencies in Oklahoma are beginning to collect DNA from individuals arrested on felony charges – the first step in implementing a controversial state law passed two years ago.
How Much Each District Judge Has Received in Campaign Donations
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Candidates running for one of Oklahoma’s 75 district judge seats have raised more than $2 million so far this election cycle. Find out how much each judge has received.
Video: The Debate Over State Question 794, or ‘Marsy’s Law’, on Victims’ Rights
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Watch a vigorous debate over State Question 794, which would amend the Oklahoma Constitution to extend and reinforce the rights of crime victims. The Oklahoma Watch-Out forum featured District Attorney Brian Hermanson and Appellate Defense Attorney Katrina Conrad-Legler.