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.
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.
‘In One Minute’: State Question 794, on Crime Victims’ Rights
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In this short video, find out what State Question 794 proposes on crime victims’ rights, including some pros and cons. This “Marsy’s Law” measure, which would amend the Oklahoma Constitution, will be on the Nov. 6 ballot.
Legalizing Medical Marijuana Doesn’t Change Its Status in Prisons
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Oklahomans will soon be able to use medical marijuana, but it doesn’t extend to those serving time. The drug remains prohibited for inmates in Oklahoma and other states that have partially or fully legalized it.
After Prison, Many Oklahomans Are Banned from Voting for Years
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Tens of thousands of Oklahomans who have been convicted of felonies are unable to vote until their time in prison and on probation and parole has been completed. That often means they wait for years, even more than a decade, before they can cast a ballot. Some states are easing restrictions.
Jail Time on Low-Level Charges Depends on the County
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How long people stay in Oklahoma county jails on misdemeanor charges varies across the state, newly obtained data shows. In some counties, pretrial release programs allow defendants to get out immediately without having to post bail. In other counties, low-level defendants can remain locked up for days or weeks, creating job or family problems.
Juvenile Sentencing Bill, Pushed by Lawmaker’s Daughter, Is Nixed
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The daughter of a state House leader who pushed a bill to protect the right to sentence juveniles to life without parole is a district attorney who seeks such a sentence in a Custer County case. The bill, however, was killed by an appeals court ruling and a requested veto.
Study Finds Justice Reform Bills Would Bring 14% Prison Growth. Is That a Success?
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Reworked criminal justice reform bills fall short of what a blue-ribbon panel recommended was needed to curb incarceration rates and provide alternatives to prison. But advocates and district attorneys favor the legislation, some of which passed the Senate and some of which passed the House Tuesday.
Racial Profiling Complaints Persist, But Few or None Confirmed by Authorities
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Stories of being pulled over for no reason are common in minority communities, raising questions about the fairness of allowing law enforcement agencies to investigate racial profiling complaints against their own officers.
With Nitrogen Executions, State Enters Uncharted Territory
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If Oklahoma succeeds in using nitrogen gas to execute death-row inmates, it will become the first in the nation to do so. But the plan, called experimental by critics, raises many questions and will almost certainly encounter legal challenges.
A Scorecard for Criminal Justice Reform
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About a dozen new and holdover bills that would overhaul Oklahoma’s criminal justice system are in the legislative pipeline. Here’s a scorecard to keep track of what happens to the proposals.