Hundreds of Oklahoma prisoners are beginning the process of their early release as part of the largest prison sentence commutation in U.S. history. The move comes in the wake of a 2016 bill signed into law by Oklahoma voters that aims to reduce mass incarceration in the state. As it stands, Oklahoma residents are residing in state-run prison facilities at a rate of 1 in every hundred.
On Friday, the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board commuted the sentences of 527, 426 of which began to be released on Monday. Steven Bickley, the executive director of the OPPB, is heralding the move as “fulfilling the will of Oklahomans.” Although 527 inmates are currently in the process sentence commutation, over 800 applied for sentence commutation, with many still awaiting approval.
The 2016 bill is targeting the release of “low-level, non-violent” offenders who are serving time for minor felonies. Such offenses as low-level drug possession charges and property crimes are turning from minor felonies to simple misdemeanors. Additionally, the bill mandates that additional funds resulting from the early release of these non-violent inmates will go toward funding drug treatment and rehabilitation services.
In the wake of these early releases, several churches, non-profits, and job creators are coming forward to offer their services. The hope is that such assistance will provide adequate support for inmates seeking successful re-entry into society.
Hope For The Future
This type of legislation and subsequent action is a step in the right direction not only for Oklahoma, but for the United States as a whole. The country is currently experiencing a welcoming decline in crime rates, but still struggles with an imprisonment rate that rivals any in the modern world. However, said imprisonment rate is decreasing (albeit slowly,) and has been for the past decade.
One of the most considerable contributing factors to this decrease is a 2014 decision by the U.S. Sentencing Commission to enact widespread reduction in sentences for drug-related crimes. This means that efforts at the state level, efforts such as that taken by Oklahoman voters, will be essential in stimying the issue of mass incarceration.
