On Monday, the sentences of 462 Oklahoma inmates were commuted, allowing them to go free.
Gov. Kevin Stitt said these people had paid their dues for what were primarily low-level drug offenses and that they deserved a second chance on life.
The move the largest single-day release in the nations history is just the first in what the first-time governor hopes will become a more deliberative process to incarceration.
Oklahoma has the highest rate of incarceration in the country, even though, as Stitt said, We dont have any different issues, than other states.
Where Oklahoma differed was its short leash on non-violent drug offenders. Even first-time offenders could be imprisoned if found with drug paraphernalia.
Give Oklahomans credit for seeing the light.
In 2016, voters approved a measure to downgrade many felonies to misdemeanors, including simple drug possession, and to prioritize treatment over incarceration for those struggling with addiction.
This year, legislators made the law retroactive so that the states pardon and parole boards could begin reviewing the sentences of the more than 1,000 Oklahoma inmates whose crimes would not be considered felonies if they were charged today.
Of those released Monday, their average stay was three years. Early release gained them about 15 months of freedom. Seventy-five percent of the inmates were men.
Stitt remarked the release of those inmates about 2% of the states estimated 26,000 prison population would save Oklahoma $12 million.
The state put about $10 million into programs and procedures to help inmates re-enter society, including providing state-issued drivers licenses, job training, and counseling.
THE GOVERNOR also recognized the high toll incarceration takes on a society, including lost income, broken relationships, and children who must be placed in foster care because of an unstable home life.
Its such an utter drain on society, he said, and at the end of the day its about jobs and its about reuniting families.
Its also about recognizing that these people have value and as a society, were the lesser without them.
Susan Lynn
