Topic: Justice System

Long Sentences and Oklahoma’s Parole Process | Interim Study, October 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...]

Mental Health in Oklahoma Prisons and Jails | Interim Study, October 2024

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...]

New report from OK Policy suggests reforms to improve outcomes for justice-involved youth

A new OK Policy report examines Oklahoma's youth justice system and suggests reforms to create impactful and transformative change for youth. [More...]

Courts should be last resort when addressing student truancy, absenteeism (Guest Article)

A new report the best way to address chronic absenteeism is for schools to work with parents, students, and community partners, rather than rely on punitive measures. [More...]

Diversion in the Youth Justice System | House Interim Study | Aug. 27, 2024

OK Policy’s Youth Justice Policy Analyst Jill Mencke spoke with lawmakers on August 27, 2024, about the state’s youth justice system. Mencke explores the challenges, disparities, and opportunities within the system, advocating for effective reforms to empower youth and families… Read more [More...]

Lawmakers must build on criminal justice reforms, not tear them down (Legislative Wrap-Up)

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...]

Eliminate justice-related fees and invest in Oklahoma’s justice system

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...]

Meaningful change still needed to address mounting problems in the child welfare and youth justice systems (2024 Legislative Wrap-up)

Oklahoma is not known for being a safe and hospitable place for children. Oklahoma, for the second year in a row, ranks 46th nationally in overall child well-being. Lawmakers sought to address this problem in the 2024 session by passing budget increases to vital services like the child welfare and youth justice systems. However, Oklahoma’s structural budget deficit has meant that state agencies and service providers in the child welfare systems have continually been forced to do more with less year after year. [More...]

Criminalizing homelessness is harmful and ineffective

Proposals to criminalize homelessness are harmful and counterproductive. Research shows us that the best way to combat homelessness is to increase access to affordable housing. [More...]

Fact Check: Has Oklahoma’s larceny rate skyrocketed since SQ 780 was passed in 2016? No. 

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...]