Policy Matters: Let’s build upon justice system reforms, not roll them back

Our criminal justice system should foster a society where laws are upheld, rights are protected, and individuals are given opportunities for reformation and reintegration into the community. When this system falls short, laws are selectively enforced, communities are unfairly targeted, and folks who encounter the justice system are far more likely to become ensnared in generational trauma.

After years of Oklahoma having world-leading incarceration rates including significant over-representation of women and Black people alongside legislative inaction to address those issues, advocates pushed reforms that moved us closer to the ideal. Those reforms included 2016’s State Questions 780 and 781 that reclassified some non-violent offenses from felonies to misdemeanors and created a way to invest savings from lower prison rates into community-level behavioral health.

This helped reduce incarceration and increase investment in diversion and reentry programs, filling historical gaps in our justice system. However, recent legislative sessions have seen lawmakers attempting to reverse that progress. For Oklahoma to maintain an effective criminal justice system, legislators must safeguard and expand upon these advancements, not roll them back.

While the attempts to roll back these reforms were largely unsuccessful this session, people who want to see our justice system achieve its full potential should continue to push back against attempts to undo voter-led reforms.

Additionally, lawmakers should fully fund our justice system without relying on fees and fines to fund everyday operations. Oklahoma’s growing financial reliance on criminal fees imposes significant barriers to reentry for justice-involved individuals. It also increases the possibility that unpaid fees can lead to loss of driving privileges or re-incarceration.

One highlight from last session was passage of Senate Bill 1835, known as the Oklahoma Survivor’s Act. Thanks to the perseverance of advocates, this act allows for lesser sentences for victims of domestic abuse whose victimization significantly influenced their offenses. It represents a critical step toward justice for survivors and a model for future reforms.

Another victory was House Bill 1629, which clarified that individuals regain their voting rights upon completing their felony sentence, enhancing civic participation among justice-involved people.

It’s important to celebrate the accomplishments when they happen, but we must also be vigilant to protect against attempts to undo the will of voters. Oklahoma leaders must continue moving away from the ineffective punishment-first approach and move us closer to a system that fully addresses the needs of individuals and communities. This represents the path to greater safety and security for all Oklahomans.

Shiloh Kantz is the executive director of the Oklahoma Policy Institute .

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