OKPOLICY.ORG
Steve Lewis served as Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1989-1991. He currently practices law in Tulsa and represents clients at the Capitol. You can sign up on his website to receive the Capitol Updates newsletter by email.
It was good to see Governor Fallin’s remarks about criminal justice in her statement about President Obama’s visit to Oklahoma that included a stop at the federal prison in El Reno. Governor Fallin said, “There is an emerging bipartisan consensus that our justice system must be ‘smart on crime’ as well as tough on crime. For individuals with mental health and addiction issues, for instance, we need to do a better job of offering treatment and supervision as alternatives to prolonged incarceration. The president and I have some common ground on this issue, as do some Republican presidential candidates as well as leading conservative activists like the Koch family.
“In Oklahoma, Republicans and Democrats have worked together on ‘smart on crime’ policies for non-violent offenders by passing alternatives to mandatory minimum sentencing; relying on drug, mental health and veterans courts as alternatives to criminal prosecution and incarceration; and pursuing reforms outlined in the Justice Reinvestment Initiative. We will continue to work to improve our criminal justice system so that it offers the greatest possible protections to the law-abiding public and the greatest rehabilitation opportunities for those who have strayed.”
Like President Obama, Governor Fallin is in her second term. The President, facing strong opposition in Congress for most of his legislative initiatives, may find some common ground with Congressional Republicans on criminal justice issues if the governor is correct about a “bipartisan consensus.” But Governor Fallin is in a stronger position in Oklahoma. As governor she leads a state with a legislature that has a veto-proof majority in her own party in both houses of the legislature. Under these circumstances willingness to lead on what might be considered a politically risky issue ought to bear results.
As the governor said, some recent progress has been made. But unfortunately most of the “reforms” have been watered down considerably to gain passage, and then if funding is required it has not been forthcoming. Even federal funds that could be available have been rejected. This is not just an issue involving crime and punishment. The criminal justice system affects race relations, poverty, family disintegration, hopelessness, lack of opportunity and mental and physical health as well as public safety in Oklahoma. Hopefully, as she progresses through her final term we’ll see the governor in the trenches fighting for a better system. A strong voice from the top of state government will make progress measurable in miles rather than inches. Those affected by the current system, which is potentially nearly everyone, cannot wait for political leaders to take “baby steps.” And Oklahoma can’t afford it.
