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| Prison Reform Bill Clears Senate |
| By World's Editorial Writers, tulsaworld.com |
| Published: 04/22/2011 |
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Two more steps and it's a done deal - Oklahoma finally will have a prison reform measure on the books that will benefit taxpayers, the beleaguered Department of Corrections, whose prisons are at 99 percent capacity, and some nonviolent inmates. In a 44-3 vote, the Senate on Wednesday approved House Bill 2131, championed by House Speaker Kris Steele, R-Shawnee. The measure now moves to the full House. If it passes there it goes to Gov. Mary Fallin who has previously supported reform. In the past, Steele has argued for passage of the reasonable measure, saying, "Our communities are safer when dangerous criminals are locked behind bars. However, Oklahoma simply cannot afford to continue down the path we're on when it comes to dealing with low-risk nonviolent offenders." The bill would allow some offenders to serve sentences in community programs and would increase the eligibility for electronic monitoring. About 500 offenders are on electronic monitoring now, and, under the bill, 720 more could be added. Monitoring costs a fraction of the cost of incarceration. "If we can increase the use of community-based services for nonviolent offenders and place a greater focus on treatment and prevention, the crime rates in our state could be reduced," Steele said. One thing should be done when the bill returns to the House: Steele should restore language that allows some inmates convicted of two or more crimes in the same proceeding to serve sentences at the same time unless a judge orders otherwise. Although a District Attorneys Council spokesman claims the DAC didn't oppose the bill, some prosecutors apparently did manage to get that provision axed. It needs to be put back in to reduce massive overcrowding. Public safety is important, but so are educating kids and taking care of the health and welfare of Oklahomans. It's difficult to accomplish the latter two goals when prison costs are eating up an ever-greater percentage of revenues. House Bill 2131 lays the foundation for addressing a rising prison population. Some political risk is involved for its supporters, but if it is not passed and signed into law, the state might never get out from under staggering and escalating prison costs. Read More. |
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