By KATELYNN BALL, Staff reporter
“The state’s prisons are badly overcrowded, holding around 110 percent of their rated capacity. Further, Oklahoma has the second-highest rate of adults with serious mental illness, but ranks 44th in the U.S. for funding the treatment of mental illness” according to okpolicy.com. State Question 780 and 781 go hand in hand because they both have to do with reducing prison population and transforming money for crimes to better fund mental health illnesses.
“State Question 780 changes the classification of simple drug possession crimes from felony to misdemeanor. It also raises the dollar amount that determines whether property crimes are a felony or misdemeanor from $500 to $1,000. Anticipating fewer prison receptions for drug possession, Sate Question 781 directs the cost savings from State Question 780 to a fund that would be distributed to counties to provide mental health and substance abuse services. The state Office of Management and Enterprise Services is directed to determine the annual savings, which will be distributed to counties in proportion to their population.” According to “The Gist” on okpolicy.com.
State prisons are struggling to keep up with the bad overcrowding that has come to this point. Prisons aren’t just at full capacity they are at about 110 percent capacity.
“Oklahoma’s high incarceration rate has not led to safer communities; we still have above average rates of crime, while other states have seen bigger drops in their crime rates in recent years.” Says supporters of State Question 780.
Opponents of state question 780 say “Without felony drug possession charges, defendants are less likely to complete substance abuse treatment. Prosecutors would no longer be able to use the threat of felony drug possession charges to compel gang members to testify against one another.”
Oklahoma is ranking number two in the rate of adult’s incarceration with mental illnesses but without adequate funding. Oklahoma ranks 44th in funding for mental illnesses. Mental illnesses are real illnesses that deserve better funding for the health of the people of Oklahoma.
“By directing the cost savings back to communities, the state can address the substance abuse and mental health issues that cause crime in the first place” stated by supporters of State Question 781.
Opponents of state question 781 state “SQ 781 leaves the calculation of cost savings to the Office of Management and Enterprise Services, but there is no guidance on how the calculation should be made. Counties that may have more people in jail or on community supervision will be responsible for more offenders but may not have sufficient funding to handle them.”
As for State Question 780, this year 2016 state legislature has already taken steps to lesson penalties for drug offences. “HB 2479 reduces the minimum mandatory punishment for drug offenders charged only with possession. However, simple drug possession can still be charged as a felony. SQ 780 would reduce the penalty for all drug possession offences to a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000” according to okpolicy.com.
Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform (OCJR) submitted both ballot initiatives and gathered over 110,000 signatures for each question, well over the 65,987 required. These State questions will be on November 8th 2016 ballot this year.