A group wanting criminal justice reform measures on November’s ballot submitted more than 200,000 signatures to the Oklahoma Secretary of State’s office Thursday.
The two state questions complement new laws passed during the 2016 legislative session.
State Questions 780 and 781 reclassify certain nonviolent offenses as misdemeanors and redirect monetary savings for more treatment and community rehabilitation programs.
Standing in front of boxes full of signature pages, Ryan Kiesel from the ACLU of Oklahoma says the measures are grounded in “evidence and reason.”
“The over 200,000 signatures behind us send a loud and unmistakable signal that the people of Oklahoma are no longer willing to tolerate the politics as usual when it comes to criminal justice reform,” Kiesel said.
Members of Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform say they hope the measures build stronger, safer and healthier communities.
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