Oklahoma leads the nation in incarceration. Oklahomans are put behind bars for things as minor as simple drug possession and inability to pay a fine or a fee. This practice costs our state millions of dollars which could go towards real solutions like job training and mental health and substance abuse treatment. Additionally, it is not making us any safer. Fortunately, there is something you can do right now. Please call your legislators and ask them to vote YES to two bills that will help break this cycle of over-incarceration.
Senate Bill 252
SB 252, authored by Sen. Roger Thompson and Rep. Chris Kannady, will help end pretrial detention for people accused of misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies who are locked up simply because they’re unable to buy their freedom from a bail bond agent. Thousands of people are sitting in jails in Oklahoma for the crime of being poor, sometimes for months. This time behind bars can result in lost jobs, lost housing, and child custody issues. SB 252 would let them return to their jobs and families. Please call members of the Senate Judiciary Committee and ask them to vote YES to SB 252.
| Sen. Julie Daniels | 405-521-5634 | daniels@oksenate.gov |
| Sen. Darcy Jech | 405-521-5545 | jech@oksenate.gov |
| Sen. Mary Boren | 405-521-5553 | mary.boren@oksenate.gov |
| Sen. Michael Brook | 405-521-5557 | brooks@oksenate.gov |
| Sen. Nathan Dahm | 405-521-5551 | dahm@oksenate.gov |
| Sen. Kay Floyd | 405-521-5610 | floyd@oksenate.gov |
| Sen. Brent Howard | 405-521-5612 | brent.howard@oksenate.gov |
| Sen. James Leewright | 405-521-5528 | leewright@oksenate.gov |
| Sen. Casey Murdock | 405-521-5626 | murdock@oksenate.gov |
| Sen. Lonnie Paxton | 405-521-5537 | paxton@oksenate.gov |
| Sen. Ron Sharp | 405-521-5539 | sharp@oksenate.gov |
| Sen. Darrell Weaver | 405-521-5569 | darrell.weaver@oksenate.gov |
House Bill 1269
HB 1269, co-authored by Reps. Jon Echols and Jason Dunnington, would allow people convicted of simple drug possession and low-level property crime to be eligible for shorter sentences. In 2016, voters approved two major justice reform initiatives, State Questions 780 and 781. SQ 780 reclassified simple drug possession and several low-level property crimes as misdemeanors instead of felonies, and SQ 781 directed the long-term savings from lower incarceration rates towards county treatment and rehabilitation services. While these reforms have had an instant impact on our court system, thousands of Oklahomans remain in prison for offenses that today would be a misdemeanor. Please call the members of the House Judiciary Committee and ask them to vote YES to HB 1269.
| Rep. Chris Kannady | 405-557-7337 | chris.kannady@okhouse.gov |
| Rep. Danny Sterling | 405-557-7349 | danny.sterling@okhouse.gov |
| Rep. Rhonda Baker | 405-557-7311 | rhonda.baker@okhouse.gov |
| Rep. Avery Frix | 405-557-7302 | avery.frix@okhouse.gov |
| Rep. Ben Loring | 405-557-7399 | ben.loring@okhouse.gov |
| Rep. Jason Lowe | 405-557-7367 | jason.lowe@okhouse.gov |
| Rep. Robert Manger | 405-557-7395 | robert.manger@okhouse.gov |
| Rep. Terry O-Donnell | 405-557-7379 | terry.odonnell@okhouse.gov |
| Rep. Jim Olsen | 405-557-7315 | jim.olsen@okhouse.gov |
| Rep. Mike Osburn | 405-557-7360 | mike.osburn@okhouse.gov |
| Rep. David Perryman | 405-557-7401 | david.perryman@okhouse.gov |
| Rep. Dustin Roberts | 405-557-7366 | dustin.roberts@okhouse.gov |
| Rep. Judd Strom | 405-557-7402 | judd.strom@okhouse.gov |
| Rep. Johnny Tadlock | 405-557-7363 | johnny.tadlock@okhouse.gov |
| Rep. Collin Walke | 405-557-7335 | collin.walke@okhouse.gov |
| Rep. Rande Worthen | 405-557-7398 | rande.worthen@okhouse.gov |
