New state guidelines aimed at reducing the spread of COVID-19 in Oklahoma jails and prisons recommend law enforcement officers exercise discretion in making arrests.
The list of best practices was developed by Attorney General Mike Hunter, district attorneys, defense counsel, judges and law enforcement officials.
Hunter said right now, police officers and sheriffs' deputies must consider the public health impact of taking someone to jail for a minor offense.
"And make a decision not to bring that individual into custody, not to put them under arrest. I mean, obviously, if somebody’s violent, if somebody is intoxicated and shouldn’t be piloting a motor vehicle, those are the calls that are easy," Hunter said.
Officers are also advised to protect themselves by maintaining distance from others when possible and frequently washing their hands and disinfecting their equipment.
Inmates in Oklahoma jails may largely be staying put until the COVID-19 emergency is over.
"One of the things that everybody agreed on was that we, for the time being, we’ve got to essentially suspend transportation of inmates between jails and inmates from jails into the Department of Corrections," Hunter said.
That also goes for transporting inmates in or out of state.
The guidelines also say prosecutors, defense attorneys and judges should work together to minimize how long someone is locked up and should aim for plea deals involving probation and should not hold people on bond unless they’re a public safety or flight risk.
Criminal justice reform advocates have called on Gov. Kevin Stitt and Department of Corrections Director Scott Crow to release prisoners who do not pose a public safety risk or who are part of a vulnerable population so they aren't infected with the illness.
