Post by pavel on Apr 21, 2016 3:18:07 GMT -6
The full Senate has given bipartisan approval to a slate of common sense criminal justice reforms. The four measures, which were proposed by Gov. Mary Fallin’s Oklahoma Justice Reform Committee, would still hold criminals accountable, but represent a better approach to dealing with nonviolent offenders that will help reduce chronic prison overcrowding, reduce recidivism, and ultimately help save taxpayer dollars.
Sen. Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, Sen. Wayne Shaw, R-Grove, and Rep Pam Peterson, R-Tulsa, are the principal authors of the bills which were approved by the full Senate on Wednesday.
“These reforms ensure public safety is still our highest priority. The Oklahoma District Attorneys Association, along with a host of other organizations, agrees,” Treat said. “We must hold those who break the law accountable, and the most violent, dangerous and predatory criminals should be behind bars. These proposals have been well vetted and represent a smarter and less expensive way to deal with those that commit nonviolent crimes.”
Treat’s legislation includes:
· HB 2472, which gives prosecutors discretion to file charges as a misdemeanor instead of a felony;
· HB 2479, which reduces the mandatory punishment for subsequent drug offenses; and
· HB 2751, which raises the threshold for property crimes to be charged as a felony to $1,000.
Read more: www.normantranscript.com/news/senate-approves-criminal-justice-reforms/article_60013100-0747-11e6-8079-8f40a10cd8df.html
Sen. Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, Sen. Wayne Shaw, R-Grove, and Rep Pam Peterson, R-Tulsa, are the principal authors of the bills which were approved by the full Senate on Wednesday.
“These reforms ensure public safety is still our highest priority. The Oklahoma District Attorneys Association, along with a host of other organizations, agrees,” Treat said. “We must hold those who break the law accountable, and the most violent, dangerous and predatory criminals should be behind bars. These proposals have been well vetted and represent a smarter and less expensive way to deal with those that commit nonviolent crimes.”
Treat’s legislation includes:
· HB 2472, which gives prosecutors discretion to file charges as a misdemeanor instead of a felony;
· HB 2479, which reduces the mandatory punishment for subsequent drug offenses; and
· HB 2751, which raises the threshold for property crimes to be charged as a felony to $1,000.
Read more: www.normantranscript.com/news/senate-approves-criminal-justice-reforms/article_60013100-0747-11e6-8079-8f40a10cd8df.html