Officials: Mass Oklahoma inmate release is nation's largest
Source: Associated Press
Sean Murphy, Associated Press
Updated 7:14 pm CDT, Thursday, October 31, 2019
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — More than 400 Oklahoma inmates are expected to walk out of prison Monday in what state officials say is the largest single-day mass commutation in the nation's history.
The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board is expected to approve the commutations Friday and forward them to Gov. Kevin Stitt, a former CEO who has made it a priority for Oklahoma to lose its ranking as the state with the highest incarceration rate in the nation.
"The governor plans to review and take immediate action on the ... docket as soon as he receives the board's recommendations on Friday," said Stitt spokeswoman Baylee Lakey. "The governor applauds the Pardon and Parole Board's dedication to fulfill the will of the people through the ... docket, giving hundreds of non-violent, low-level offenders an opportunity at a second chance."
. . .
Oklahoma voters approved a state question in 2016 that made simple drug possession and low-level property crimes misdemeanors instead of felonies. A bill approved earlier this year and signed by Stitt applied those sentences retroactively and authorized an accelerated, single-stage commutation docket for those who qualify.
Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Officials-Mass-Oklahoma-inmate-release-is-14681198.php
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