Common Sense Criminal Justice Reform

With the passage of State Questions 780 and 781, Oklahoma has made some truly smart reforms to the criminal justice system. On July 1, 2017 simple possession of drugs (with no intent to distribute/traffic) will be a misdemeanor. Repeated offenses will also be misdemeanors. Not making felons out of people charged with drug possession will save the state money. Felonies are more expensive to prosecute and prison dollars should be spent on people who are truly dangerous to society. People who are convicted of drug possession will no longer have their lives destroyed by being made unemployable by a "felon" label. The money saved by this change in the law is to be directed to rehabilitation facilities. The people of Oklahoma have chosen to help our citizens with drug dependency problems by rehabilitating them instead of locking them up and ostracizing them. 

Additionally, State Question 780 increases the dollar amount threshold that must be crossed before larceny is elevated to grand larceny. Previously, if someone stole property valued higher than $500, larceny became grand larceny. As of July 1, 2017 the amount is raised to $1000. Put another way, the theft of a cell phone will no longer make someone a felon. 

All changes made by SQ780 can be found here:

www.sos.ok.gov/documents/questions/780.pdf