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SQ780 – Putting Criminals on the Street?

Technically yes.  State question 780 is all about criminal justice reform.  Its core function is to revise the law to change certain felonies to misdemeanors.  It makes changes that actually keep people out of jail by redefining the limits of certain crimes so that the punishments are decreased for lesser crimes. This question specifically impacts defined limits for drug possession and property crimes.  So technically, it will keep people on the street being charged with misdemeanors for the exact same criminal act that if conducted today would receive heavier punishments levied as felonies.  The link below has much more information and lists the specifics.

https://ballotpedia.org/Oklahoma_Reclassification_of_Some_Drug_and_Property_Crimes_as_Misdemeanors,_State_Question_780_(2016)

While the premise sounds scary, the changes are so subtle that it really is not scary.  Oklahoma needs reform like this to take pressure off of the criminal justice system.  There is notable support for this measure and no organized opposition.  If it was really a bad thing, it seems logical that an opposing group would organize around the cause of trying to defeat this state question.

Some may view this state question as dangerous for our citizens since it eases criminal punishments.  I see these reforms as actually doing more overall good for our state and its citizens, which is why I am planning to vote YES on state question 780.

State question 781 is contingent upon 780.  This means that is 780 fails, then 781 cannot be effective.  SQ781 uses funds saved by the reforms of 780 to create better rehabilitative services.  This is another argument for state question 780 by putting the same funds to work helping people instead of punishing them.  Sounds like a great win to me.

Comments (4)

  • Mike Sandvig

    September 27, 2016 at 3:08 pm

    California passed a version of this law last year and the effects have been startling. When penalties are relaxed it seems more people are willing to commit crimes. When you couple that with the large undocumented population, who rarely appear for court dates, our crime rate is escalating. Yes it helps lower prison population, but it has made law abiding citizens less secure.

    1. Ryan Posey

      September 28, 2016 at 7:58 am

      Mike, thanks for your unique perspective. It would be interesting to compare the relaxation measures in the California law and what Oklahoma has planned.

  • Charlene

    September 27, 2016 at 9:07 pm

    Sorry, disagree with your blog. Vote NO on State Question 780! The crime rate is down by 11.28% since 2007 due to efforts to prosecute criminals. This sounds like something Obama came up with….Setting criminals free, which we the people “Law Abiding Citizens” must endure their offenses again or worse! We the people see this kind of softness on the News EVERYDAY! VOTE NO ON STATE QUESTION 780!!!!!

    1. Ryan Posey

      September 28, 2016 at 7:59 am

      Charlene, thanks for sharing your opinion. I can definitely appreciate this argument and you obviously feel strongly on this issue. Maybe you should organize the opposition?!

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