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Sen. Young files legislation requiring a racial impact statement for criminal justice reform bills

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. George Young, D-Oklahoma City, says minority communities are disproportionately impacted by the state’s criminal justice system, and Oklahoma’s state leaders need to reform how criminal justice decisions are made by analyzing the impact of proposed legislation on minorities through racial impact statements. 

 

Young has filed Senate Bill 1184, which would require a racial impact statement for any Senate or House bill that creates a new offense; significantly changes an existing offense; changes the penalty for an existing offense; or changes existing sentencing, parole or probation procedures. Under SB 1184, in order for a criminal justice bill to be heard in committee, a racial impact statement would have to be filed with the chairman. If the bill is amended, a new racial impact statement would need to be prepared.

 

“Incarceration disparities lead to generational cycles of trauma and economic disadvantage,” Young said. “A racial impact statement would allow lawmakers a chance to identify any discriminatory impact toward minority groups. The goal is to reduce the gap of racial and ethnic disparities.”

 

SB 1184 directs that each racial impact statement would be drafted by the Oklahoma Statistical Analysis Center at the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation with help from the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and the Office of Juvenile Affairs. Each racial impact statement would be required to include the estimated number of criminal cases per year the legislation would affect; the impact of the bill on a minority; and the impact of the bill upon correctional facilities and services.

 

Five states – Iowa, Connecticut, Florida, Oregon and New Jersey – have implemented racial impact statements. Similar legislation has been introduced in eight other states.

 

“Oklahoma has the highest rate of black incarceration in the country,” Young said. “Hispanics and Native Americans are also overrepresented in our Oklahoma prisons. Adding racial impact statements is vital to addressing these disparities in our criminal justice system.”

Contact info
Sen. Casey Murdock at 405-521-5626 or email casey.murdock@oksenate.gov