Cole Allen joined OK Policy as a Policy Fellow in August 2022 and was named the Criminal Justice Policy Analyst in October 2023. He attended the University of Oklahoma, earning a BA in International Studies with minors in Religious Studies and Middle Eastern Studies in May 2022 and is currently working on an MA in International Studies. During college, Cole was a research assistant at the Center for U.S.-China Issues and the Center for Cyber Governance and Policy. He also interned for the U.S. Department of State Diplomat in Residence for the Central United States. Cole hopes that his work at OK Policy will help make Oklahoma a more just and equitable state for all its residents. When he is not working, Cole enjoys travelling, playing Dungeons and Dragons, and following OU athletics.
By: Cole Allen
September 2, 2025 // Updated: November 13, 2025
Lawsuits related a bill that limits the state question process are critical steps to this constitutional right. The Supreme Court must act with haste to strike down SB 1027 as a blatantly unconstitutional limit on free speech and democracy. [More...]
By: Cole Allen
June 15, 2025 // Updated: June 15, 2025
This year, legislators advanced a number of bills that will improve the criminal justice system in Oklahoma, and largely managed to avoid undoing previous work. Going into the 2026 legislative session, lawmakers should continue to prioritize building upon progress rather than tearing down policies that work. [More...]
By: Cole Allen
April 16, 2025 // Updated: May 21, 2025
When applying SB 1027's formula statewide, its requirement would exclude 2.1 million citizens (or 89.8% of registered voters) from signing a petition for statutory amendments, and 2.2 million citizens (or 94.4% of registered voters) for constitutional amendments. [More...]
By: Cole Allen
April 10, 2025 // Updated: November 4, 2025
Due process ensures that the federal and state governments must treat all individuals fairly. The constitutions for both the United States and Oklahoma guarantee that the government can not deprive someone of life, liberty, or property without following a fair… Read more [More...]
By: Cole Allen
March 19, 2025 // Updated: March 19, 2025
Once again, the Legislature is ready to work against itself when it comes to Oklahoma’s criminal justice system. The Legislature has advanced some bills that will remove barriers placed on justice-involved people. However, it has also entertained a number of… Read more [More...]
By: Cole Allen
October 30, 2024 // Updated: October 30, 2024
OK Policy's Criminal Justice Policy Analyst Cole Allen spoke with lawmakers on Oct. 29, 2024, about how long prison sentences impact the state's parole process. [More...]
OK Policy's Criminal Justice Policy Analyst Cole Allen spoke with lawmakers about how to improve mental health treatment in Oklahoma jails during an Oct. 28, 2024, interim study. [More...]
By: Cole Allen
July 9, 2024 // Updated: July 9, 2024
While the Oklahoma Legislature passed some important measures in 2024, there were also disconcerting attempts to undo years of improvements. Some of these harmful measures were stopped, but many positive changes also failed to progress. If Oklahoma truly wants an effective criminal justice system, legislators must protect and build on the progress made over the years. [More...]
By: Cole Allen
June 24, 2024 // Updated: June 24, 2024
If Oklahoma's lawmakers are serious about improving public safety, they should focus their efforts on eliminating justice-related fees and fines. Doing so would help justice-involved Oklahomans and improve public safety, provide stable funding for essential public safety services, and would be a cost-effective investment for our justice system. [More...]
By: Cole Allen
March 22, 2024 // Updated: June 10, 2025
Some lawmakers and others have shared OSBI data purporting to show a dramatic increase in larceny, shoplifting, or other property crimes. OSBI has said those spikes were created by changes in data reporting, not increases in crime. [More...]
OKPOLICY.ORG
Lawsuits related a bill that limits the state question process are critical steps to this constitutional right. The Supreme Court must act with haste to strike down SB 1027 as a blatantly unconstitutional limit on free speech and democracy. [More...]
This year, legislators advanced a number of bills that will improve the criminal justice system in Oklahoma, and largely managed to avoid undoing previous work. Going into the 2026 legislative session, lawmakers should continue to prioritize building upon progress rather than tearing down policies that work. [More...]
When applying SB 1027's formula statewide, its requirement would exclude 2.1 million citizens (or 89.8% of registered voters) from signing a petition for statutory amendments, and 2.2 million citizens (or 94.4% of registered voters) for constitutional amendments. [More...]
Once again, the Legislature is ready to work against itself when it comes to Oklahoma’s criminal justice system. The Legislature has advanced some bills that will remove barriers placed on justice-involved people. However, it has also entertained a number of… Read more [More...]
While the Oklahoma Legislature passed some important measures in 2024, there were also disconcerting attempts to undo years of improvements. Some of these harmful measures were stopped, but many positive changes also failed to progress. If Oklahoma truly wants an effective criminal justice system, legislators must protect and build on the progress made over the years. [More...]
If Oklahoma's lawmakers are serious about improving public safety, they should focus their efforts on eliminating justice-related fees and fines. Doing so would help justice-involved Oklahomans and improve public safety, provide stable funding for essential public safety services, and would be a cost-effective investment for our justice system. [More...]
Some lawmakers and others have shared OSBI data purporting to show a dramatic increase in larceny, shoplifting, or other property crimes. OSBI has said those spikes were created by changes in data reporting, not increases in crime. [More...]
