Criminal justice reform advocates converge on the Oklahoma Capitol

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - (KOKH) — Another advocacy group converges on the Oklahoma State Capitol in a last ditch effort to reach lawmakers.

Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform rallied in the Capitol's fourth floor rotunda May 10, urging legislators to advance the remaining 10 justice reform bills recommended by Governor Mary Fallin's criminal justice task force.

Those leading the charge say “less prisons, more treatment programs” is a concept many Oklahomans find reasonable. Proof of that came in November with the passage of State Questions 780 and 781. However, there are those who remain unconvinced.

"The notion of charting a new course and changing the paradigm for how we deal with low level offenses is difficult for a lot of people,” said Former House Speaker Kris Steele.

Others are concerned about losing revenue through the fees and fines levied on the backs of non-violent criminals. When, financially, Steele says, the state would benefit substantially.

“This set of reforms represents about $2 billion worth of savings to the state of Oklahoma over the next 10 years,” Steele said.

That's money that could instead go toward treatment and counseling for those who would otherwise be unsuccessfully riding out their personal issues behind bars.

"The drug court program, it saved my life,” said Lori Souders, a recovering addict. “And, you know, I wouldn't have had that opportunity had I went to prison."

The passage of these bills would ultimately help more than individuals who face incarceration. It would also go on to help their children, who, without proper programs and counseling, are seven times more likely to end up in jail themselves

"We have to do something to reduce this prison pipeline, where kids are automatically shuffled into a system where they're learning bad behavior and eventually are falling into that trap where they go to jail themselves,” said Joe Dorman, CEO at the Institute for Child Advocacy.

The coalition has a long way to go, but advocates are hopeful lawmakers on both sides of the aisle will realize not only will they be saving money, but they'll be saving lives.

"Other states have already proven that these reforms are successful and effective and there's no reason why we wouldn't want to do the same thing and have the same results here in Oklahoma,” Steele said.