Johnson: Remove Governor From Parole Process
From The State Senate ~ Senator Constance Johnson on Thursday testified before a House Interim Study Committee on removing the governor from the parole process and provided information on the status of the Second Chance Act, which was recently approved with broad bipartisan support by the U.S. House.
The Second Chance Act would authorize $55 million in block grants to assist states in successful offender re-socialization, transition and return to civil society.
“Under the Second Chance Act, Oklahoma is uniquely positioned to begin addressing the problem of a perpetually over-crowded and economically unsustainable prison population,” said Johnson, D-Oklahoma City. “The Act received veto-proof passage in the U.S. House, and is expected to receive the same level of bipartisan support from the U.S. Senate.”
In her remarks, Johnson described a system in which the Governor’s role in the parole process would be shared with faith and community-based organizations.
“Such a process could allow for inclusion of accountability and other concerns that have been expressed in opposition to removing the Governor from the parole process,” Johnson said.
Johnson noted that the state of Oklahoma currently incarcerates more women per capita than any other state, and is the third highest incarcerator of both men and women per capita.
Since 1986, the Department of Corrections (DOC) budget has grown 250 percent, more than twice the rate of increase for education spending. Oklahoma is the only state in which the governor must sign all paroles before an inmate may be released.
The Second Chance Act would authorize $55 million in block grants to assist states in successful offender re-socialization, transition and return to civil society.
“Under the Second Chance Act, Oklahoma is uniquely positioned to begin addressing the problem of a perpetually over-crowded and economically unsustainable prison population,” said Johnson, D-Oklahoma City. “The Act received veto-proof passage in the U.S. House, and is expected to receive the same level of bipartisan support from the U.S. Senate.”
In her remarks, Johnson described a system in which the Governor’s role in the parole process would be shared with faith and community-based organizations.
“Such a process could allow for inclusion of accountability and other concerns that have been expressed in opposition to removing the Governor from the parole process,” Johnson said.
Johnson noted that the state of Oklahoma currently incarcerates more women per capita than any other state, and is the third highest incarcerator of both men and women per capita.
Since 1986, the Department of Corrections (DOC) budget has grown 250 percent, more than twice the rate of increase for education spending. Oklahoma is the only state in which the governor must sign all paroles before an inmate may be released.
Labels: Brad Henry, Constance Johnson, Paroles
posted by Mike McCarville @ 5:40 PM
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