PERRIS, THEY WANT TO PUT A NEW
QUESTION IN FRONT OF VOTERS.
PERRIS JESS, THAT’S RIGHT, AND
THIS IS ALL ABOUT THE PRACTICE
OF GIVING OFFENDERS LONGER
SENTENCES FOR THEIR PREVIOUS
CRIMES.
SOME CALL THE PRACTICE
COMPLETELY UNFAIR.
ABOUT A WEEK AFTER A HISTORIC
DAY FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM
IN OKLAHOMA, ONE GROUP IS TRYING
TO KEEP UP THE MOMENTUM.
>> SO, DOES THAT TAKE CARE OF
IT?
>> THAT’S IT.
>> GOOD, THANK YOU.
PERRIS: OKLAHOMANS FOR
SENTENCING REFORM FILED A
CONSTITUTIONAL BALLOT INITIATIVE
TO END THE PRACTICE OF ADDING
MORE TIME TO SOMEONE’S PRISON
SENTENCE BECAUSE OF PREVIOUS
CONVICTIONS.
>> INSTEAD OF INCARCERATING
INDIVIDUALS, WE WANT TO GET DOWN
TO THE ROOT CAUSE AND PROVIDE
THE PROPER TREATMENT.
>> THERE IS NO EVIDENCE TH
EXCESSIVE SENTENCES REDUCE CRIME
OR MAKE OUR COMMUNITY SAFER.
THEY USUALLY MAKE A SITUATION
WORSE BY TEARING FAMILIES APART,
BY COSTING THE STATE A FORTUNE.
PERRIS: KRIS STEELE SAYS HE
EXPECTS TO FACE SOME OPPOSITION,
BECAUSE THEY’VE TRIED THIS
BEFORE.
>> WE’VE NOT GAINED ANY
TRACTION, IN LARGE PART BECAUSE
OF THE PROSECUTORS INSIDE THIS
BUILDING.
I WOULD SUSPECT WE WOULD SEE
THAT SAME OPPOSITION MOVING
FORWAR
PERRIS: OF COURSE, THERE MAY BE
QUESTIONS ABOUT WHO THIS DOES
AND DOES NOT APPLY TO.
THIS WOULD NOT APPLY TO VIOLENT
FELONS.
IT WOULD ALLOW INMATES SERVING
THOSE LONGER SENTENCES TO ASK TO
HAVE
