Several bills addressing criminal justice in Oklahoma will receive consideration when the legislature looks to pass these measures on February 7, 2022. To become laws, bills must pass through both House as well as Senate committees and then receive the support of votes from both chambers. After this, Oklahoma’s governor still has final authority to either sign in approval or veto the legislation. The following are some of the most noteworthy criminal law bills that will be considered in the February 2022 legislative session.

Establish a Violent Offender Public Registry

House Bill 3263 directs the Department of Corrections to establish and maintain a public database of individuals convicted of felony domestic violence offenses. Advocates for such a database argue that it would let individuals make informed choices about people. Countless advocates for domestic violence victims have expressed skepticism about public registries, though. These advocates argue that only a portion of abusers are ever listed in registries.

Establishing a Death Penalty Conviction Integrity Unit

House Bill 3305 proposes the state’s Pardon and Parole Board to form a Conviction Integrity Unit, which would include an independent lawyer and investigator to review death penalty cases where the potential for innocence might exist. Bipartisan legislature believe that should be increased scrutiny in death penalty cases where the possibility for guilt exists. The proposed unit would be tasked with investigating death penalty cases and reporting findings to the Pardon and Parole Board. The unit would lack the authority to grant or deny clemency, though.

Authorizing Automatic Expungement

House Bill 3316 proposes authorizing the state of Oklahoma to automatically expunge some types of criminal records. State law permits a person with a misdemeanor or nonviolent felony criminal record to pursue expungement five years following their sentence’s completion. The expungement process is expensive and difficult to perform without the assistance, though. Automatic expungement would remove financial burdens and provide assistance to over 100,000 people in Oklahoma, criminal reform supporters argue. Studies reveal that expungement substantially increases the likelihood of a person with a criminal record securing stable housing as well as employment.

Senate Bill 1109

This measure proposes prohibiting law enforcement departments from utilizing unmarked vehicles for the enforcement of traffic. Unmarked vehicles are currently being utilized to increase revenue for traffic tickets and do not positively impact public safety. People tend to pay more focus and have better driving patterns when law enforcement vehicles are around. As a result, advocates of this bill argue that having more vehicles on the road would positively impact safety. Several police chiefs have criticized the bill, though, and commented that unmarked vehicles are a critical tool that helps officers catch both dangerous drivers.

Contact an Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney

If you or a loved one needs the assistance of an experienced criminal defense attorney, one of the best things that you can do is to contact Attorney Tracy Tiernan. Reach out today to schedule a free case evaluation.