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| Oklahoma agencies working to implement new criminal justice law |
| By tulsaworld.com - Barbara Hoberock |
| Published: 10/12/2012 |
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OKLAHOMA CITY - House Speaker Kris Steele said Thursday that he is confident that state agencies will meet a Nov. 1 deadline for implementing a highly touted criminal justice bill. Steele, R-Shawnee, is the author of House Bill 3052, a law signed by Gov. Mary Fallin. It is designed to increase public safety and reduce incarceration costs. Steele is the co-chairman of a group overseeing implementation. The group received an update on the status of creating intermediate revocation facilities for offenders who commit technical violations of probation, such as a missed curfew or failed drug tests. Those who commit new criminal offenses are not eligible. The Department of Corrections is creating the sanction beds within existing state prisons and community correctional centers, according to Eric Franklin, deputy director of treatment and rehabilitative services. Some halfway-house beds may also be used, he said. Technical violators will serve six months and undergo intensive treatment rather than spending on average an additional 1.9 years behind bars if probation is revoked, Franklin said. Tulsa County Undersheriff Tim Albin had expressed concern that inmates awaiting transport to the DOC for technical violations would reduce the available bed space at his jail. Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater, co-chairman of the working group, said the legislation would not have an impact on county jail populations because those offenders would be there regardless. Albin said he remains concerned that a mental-health evaluation tool to be used before sentencing could result in more backup at county jails for offenders awaiting sentencing. Albin said he is concerned that the evaluations will not be done quickly enough, causing delays in taking inmates to the Department of Corrections once they are sentenced. Read More. |
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