Post by Logan on Jun 5, 2016 19:45:39 GMT -6
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Two proposals designed to control future growth in the Oklahoma prison population have received enough signatures to qualify for the state ballot, supporters said Thursday.
Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform delivered more than 220,000 petition signatures Thursday to the Oklahoma secretary of state's office, which will verify the numbers. The first proposal would reclassify some drug and property crimes as misdemeanors instead of felonies. The second would require the state to estimate the resulting cost savings and direct that money toward crime prevention efforts, such as rehabilitation programs, education and job training.
The group has collected more than 110,000 signatures on each measure, said former Oklahoma House Speaker Kris Steele, who is spearheading the reform effort. Each measure requires 65,000 verified signatures to be eligible for the ballot.
"We believe it's time to take a smarter approach to public safety," Steele said. "By submitting these signatures to the secretary of state, Oklahoma voters will determine if they want to remove the felony conviction for individuals battling addiction and mental illness and redirect those savings back to counties for treatment and rehabilitation services."
Read more: www.swoknews.com/area/theres-enough-support-send%C2%A0-2-justice-reforms-voters-fall
Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform delivered more than 220,000 petition signatures Thursday to the Oklahoma secretary of state's office, which will verify the numbers. The first proposal would reclassify some drug and property crimes as misdemeanors instead of felonies. The second would require the state to estimate the resulting cost savings and direct that money toward crime prevention efforts, such as rehabilitation programs, education and job training.
The group has collected more than 110,000 signatures on each measure, said former Oklahoma House Speaker Kris Steele, who is spearheading the reform effort. Each measure requires 65,000 verified signatures to be eligible for the ballot.
"We believe it's time to take a smarter approach to public safety," Steele said. "By submitting these signatures to the secretary of state, Oklahoma voters will determine if they want to remove the felony conviction for individuals battling addiction and mental illness and redirect those savings back to counties for treatment and rehabilitation services."
Read more: www.swoknews.com/area/theres-enough-support-send%C2%A0-2-justice-reforms-voters-fall