Long Sentences and Oklahoma's Parole Process | Interim Study

OK Policy's Criminal Justice Policy Analyst Cole Allen spoke with lawmakers about how to long prison sentences impact Oklahoma's parole process. Allen spoke during an Oct. 29, 2024, interim study in the Oklahoma House about corrections and sentencing. His slides and more information can be found at OKPolicy.org.

[@MR-ys2jo]

One way to fix the problem is to take away the power that the district attorneys have. Once someone is convicted and sentenced. The district attorney should be done. They should not have a say so whether a person gets paroled or not. They should not have a say so on a person that's incarcerated period. Their job is to prove a person's guilt and convict them. Once that is done, they should be done. It should be the sentencing judge that has power over it. Especially on a person's judicial review.

[@MR-ys2jo]

and they deny all violent cases for parole

[@MR-ys2jo]

The county jail in my county don't have vapes. They have dipps for nicotine. They suck on them like a piece of candy.

[@MR-ys2jo]

That would be the parole board themselves that deny parole. Their all in it together. They want them in prison cause they are making bank on them.

[@MR-ys2jo]

I don't see how the health care so high. Because they don't get good health care. Older people have all their priors that they use against them on a simple nonviolent charge at age 50. But they use all their priors against them on sentencing. And all enhancements are something to life. 2-life, 4-life,6-life