Criminal Justice Reform

Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler is facing a Republican primary challenge from Colleen McCarty, marking a contest between two figures who have frequently clashed in courtrooms.

Oklahoma lawmakers will look to tackle a broad array of criminal justice issues in the coming months, including raising the burden of proof for civil asset forfeiture and expanding parole eligibility for Oklahoma’s aging prison population.

Enacted in late 2024, the law allows domestic violence survivors to seek reduced sentences if abuse was a “substantial contributing factor” in the crime they committed against the perpetrator.

Oklahoma leads the nation in executing death row inmates. Now, multiple Oklahoma-based organizations are joining the effort to end that practice.

OKLAHOMA CITY – A recent state law meant to provide some abuse victims sentencing relief in criminal cases may need tweaking, two of the measure’s authors said.

The report, released by nonprofit Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform, concludes property crime has gone down by nearly a third in the state.

Most criminal justice reform conversations at the Capitol focused on making the reintegration process easier as a strategy to reduce recidivism.

Defendants aren’t necessarily told fines and costs, which are specific to each criminal case, before they agree to pay the total amount.

Recommendations from the speakers included investing in treatment courts and services, improving jail data collection, implementing universal intake screening and increasing diversion services.

He was 15 when he killed his sister’s abuser. Even after years of good conduct, the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board has rejected recommending him for release.