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More than 400 inmates across Oklahoma were being released from prison Monday in what the governor's office calls the largest single-day mass commutation in the nation's history.

The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board approved the commutations Friday and forwarded them to Gov. Kevin Stitt, a former mortgage company CEO who was elected in 2018. The board voted unanimously to recommend that the sentences of 527 state inmates be commuted, with 462 of those inmates slated to walk out of prison Monday and 65 others being held on detainer.

"With this vote, we are fulfilling the will of Oklahomans," Steve Bickley, executive director of the board, said in a statement Friday. "However, from Day One, the goal of this project has been more than just the release of low-level, nonviolent offenders, but the successful re-entry of these individuals back into society."

Stitt, a Republican, has advocated for criminal justice reform, pledging to move away from policies that have made Oklahoma the state with the highest incarceration rate in the country. At a news conference Friday, Stitt hailed the decision to give hundreds of Oklahomans "a second chance."

People applaud after the Pardon and Parole Board read the names of 527 Oklahoma inmates recommended for commutation at the Kate Barnard Correctional Center in Oklahoma City on Nov. 1, 2019. Oklahoma will release more than 400 inmates after a state panel approved what they say is the largest single-day mass commutation in U.S. history.People applaud after the Pardon and Parole Board read the names of 527 Oklahoma inmates recommended for commutation at the Kate Barnard Correctional Center in Oklahoma City on Nov. 1, 2019. Oklahoma will release more than 400 inmates after a state panel approved what they say is the largest single-day mass commutation in U.S. history.Sarah Phipps / The Oklahoman via AP
"This marks an important milestone of Oklahomans wanting to focus the state's efforts on helping those with nonviolent offenses achieve better outcomes in life," Stitt said in a statement Monday.

Quote (thundercock @ Nov 12 2019 09:54pm)

The Singapore model works best IMO. They have some of the lowest drug use rates in the entire world and are a thriving society.

Quote (Handcuffs @ Nov 12 2019 10:35pm)

Substance use should be viewed as a public health concern, and not met with punishment. Countries that implemented this approach have largely seen reductions in substance use and violent crime, and in turn end up saving a lot of money.

Quote (thundercock @ 13 Nov 2019 04:54)

The Singapore model works best IMO. They have some of the lowest drug use rates in the entire world and are a thriving society.

Quote (Black XistenZ @ Nov 13 2019 04:22am)

Singapore is a police state, and one of the richest places on this planet. Aside from some managers and hollywood figures doing cocaine, drug use is largely a problem of poor and/or dysfunctional communities. Of which there are many in the U.S., but very few in Singapore.

Also, keep in mind that the draconian sentences will induce a substantial underreporting bias in their drug use statistics.



I'm in favor of cracking down much harder on the big drug cartels and the big, transregional dealers while reducing the sentences for individuals who are consuming or selling small amounts. Cracking down on the lowly local dealers while letting the big fish get away was a mistake.