Origanalist
11-04-2019, 01:08 PM
In a Historical Move, Largest-Ever Number of Drug Offenders Set Free From Prison Today
Oklahoma City, OK — In what is being called the largest-ever single day of commutations in the history of the United States, hundreds of non-violent drug offenders and other low-level non-violent offenders are being set free from Oklahoma prisons on Monday.
In a historical move, Governor Kevin Stitt signed the recommendations to release more than 450 inmates on Friday. Now, all these people whose lives were thought to be ruined because they were caught with substances deemed illegal by the state, will have a second chance at life.
This move comes after a 2016 measure passed through the Oklahoma legislative process, titled State Question 780, making low-level drug and property crimes misdemeanors instead of felonies. Gov. Stitt signed a bill earlier this year, retroactively applying this law to those who were rotting in jail for having a bit of a plant on them.
“From the 30,000-foot view, the criminal justice landscape is light-years ahead of where it was three or four years ago,” criminal justice reform advocate Ryan Kiesel, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma told The Washington Post. “It would have been impossible before State Question 780 passed in Oklahoma; that signaled to lawmakers there was an appetite for reform.”
One of these prisoners to be released on Monday is Rose Ortiz, who has been rotting in a jail cell as part of her seven year sentence for drug possession. During her time in prison, Ortiz gave birth to a baby daughter. Now, she will finally be reunited with her.
KTVH News interviewed another woman who had her sentence for drug possession commuted in December. Since then, she’s turned around her life, gotten a job and an apartment.
After being released, Johnna Davidson completed a program for transitional living, got her own apartment and has had a job as a welder for almost a year, according to KTVH.
“I’m excited that they’re getting a second chance,” said Davidson. “I hope that they utilize the resources that they’re given and take it serious.”
What’s more, by releasing so many non-violent drug offenders, the taxpayers of Oklahoma are going to save millions in prison costs. It is a win, win.
continued..https://thefreethoughtproject.com/historical-prison-commutation-state/
Oklahoma City, OK — In what is being called the largest-ever single day of commutations in the history of the United States, hundreds of non-violent drug offenders and other low-level non-violent offenders are being set free from Oklahoma prisons on Monday.
In a historical move, Governor Kevin Stitt signed the recommendations to release more than 450 inmates on Friday. Now, all these people whose lives were thought to be ruined because they were caught with substances deemed illegal by the state, will have a second chance at life.
This move comes after a 2016 measure passed through the Oklahoma legislative process, titled State Question 780, making low-level drug and property crimes misdemeanors instead of felonies. Gov. Stitt signed a bill earlier this year, retroactively applying this law to those who were rotting in jail for having a bit of a plant on them.
“From the 30,000-foot view, the criminal justice landscape is light-years ahead of where it was three or four years ago,” criminal justice reform advocate Ryan Kiesel, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma told The Washington Post. “It would have been impossible before State Question 780 passed in Oklahoma; that signaled to lawmakers there was an appetite for reform.”
One of these prisoners to be released on Monday is Rose Ortiz, who has been rotting in a jail cell as part of her seven year sentence for drug possession. During her time in prison, Ortiz gave birth to a baby daughter. Now, she will finally be reunited with her.
KTVH News interviewed another woman who had her sentence for drug possession commuted in December. Since then, she’s turned around her life, gotten a job and an apartment.
After being released, Johnna Davidson completed a program for transitional living, got her own apartment and has had a job as a welder for almost a year, according to KTVH.
“I’m excited that they’re getting a second chance,” said Davidson. “I hope that they utilize the resources that they’re given and take it serious.”
What’s more, by releasing so many non-violent drug offenders, the taxpayers of Oklahoma are going to save millions in prison costs. It is a win, win.
continued..https://thefreethoughtproject.com/historical-prison-commutation-state/