Rader to host interim study regarding criminal sentencing reform

Senate Majority Caucus Chair Dave Rader, R-Tulsa, will host an interim study regarding criminal sentencing reform today, Tuesday, Oct. 5, at 1 p.m. in the Senate Public Safety Committee.

The study will examine sentencing reform and the reclassification effects on Oklahoma’s prison population, as well as the felony class systems in other states.

“As taxpayers, we should all be interested in what we can do to safely lower our incarceration rates and help those previously imprisoned to break that cycle and become productive citizens,” Rader said.  “However, we also need to be cognizant of keeping hard-working Oklahomans and their families safe from danger. It really is important to strike the right balance of crime vs. punishment. I’m hopeful this study will shed additional light as to how we can improve our criminal justice system as it relates to sentencing reform in Oklahoma.”

Speakers will include: Ryan Gentzler, Oklahoma Policy Institute (OPI) research director; Bob Ravitz, Oklahoma County chief public defender; Jari Askins, administrative director of the Courts; Lori Carter, State of Oklahoma senior deputy attorney general; Justin Wolf, Department of Corrections chief administrator of communications and governmental relations; Felicity Rose, FWD.us research and policy director; Sarah Edwards, Esquire of Counsel, Hartzog, Conger and Cason; and Adam Maxey, American for Prosperity deputy state director.

The meeting will be held in room 230 at the state Capitol. A livestream of the study will also be available at www.oksenate.gov/live-chamber.