Help end over-incarceration by calling these legislators

If this email is not displaying correctly, you can view it in your browser.   Dear Friend, Oklahoma leads the nation in incarceration. Oklahomans are put behind bars for things as minor as simple drug possession and inability to pay a fine or a fee.  This practice costs our state millions of dollars which could go towards real solutions like job training and mental health and substance abuse treatment. Additionally, it is not making us any safer. Fortunately, there is something you can do right now. Please call your legislators and ask them to vote YES to two bills that will help break this cycle of over-incarceration. SB 252, authored by Sen. Roger Thompson and Rep. Chris Kannady, will help end pretrial detention for people accused of misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies who are locked up simply because they’re unable to buy their freedom from a bail bond agent. Thousands of people are sitting in jails in Oklahoma for the crime of being poor, sometimes for months. This time behind bars can result in lost jobs, lost housing, and child custody issues. SB 252 would let them return to their jobs and families. Please call members of the Senate Judiciary Committee and ask them to vote YES to SB 252. Sen. Julie Daniels 405-521-5634 daniels@oksenate.gov Sen. Darcy Jech 405-521-5545 jech@oksenate.gov Sen. Mary Boren 405-521-5553 mary.boren@oksenate.gov Sen. Michael Brook 405-521-5557 brooks@oksenate.gov Sen. Nathan Dahm 405-521-5551 dahm@oksenate.gov Sen. Kay Floyd 405-521-5610 floyd@oksenate.gov Sen. Brent Howard 405-521-5612 brent.howard@oksenate.gov Sen. James Leewright 405-521-5528 leewright@oksenate.gov Sen. Casey Murdock 405-521-5626 murdock@oksenate.gov Sen. Lonnie Paxton 405-521-5537 paxton@oksenate.gov Sen. Ron Sharp 405-521-5539 sharp@oksenate.gov Sen. Darrell Weaver 405-521-5569 darrell.weaver@oksenate.gov HB 1269, co-authored by Reps. Jon Echols and Jason Dunnington, would allow people convicted of simple drug possession and low-level property crime to be eligible for shorter sentences. In 2016, voters approved two major justice reform initiatives, State Questions 780 and 781. SQ 780 reclassified simple drug possession and several low-level property crimes as misdemeanors instead of felonies, and SQ 781 directed the long-term savings from lower incarceration rates towards county treatment and rehabilitation services. While these reforms have had an instant impact on our court system, thousands of Oklahomans remain in prison for offenses that today would be a misdemeanor. Please call the members of the House Judiciary Committee and ask them to vote YES to HB 1269. Rep. Chris Kannady 405-557-7337 chris.kannady@okhouse.gov Rep. Danny Sterling 405-557-7349 danny.sterling@okhouse.gov Rep. Rhonda Baker 405-557-7311 rhonda.baker@okhouse.gov Rep. Avery Frix 405-557-7302 avery.frix@okhouse.gov Rep. Ben Loring 405-557-7399 ben.loring@okhouse.gov Rep. Jason Lowe 405-557-7367 jason.lowe@okhouse.gov Rep. Robert Manger 405-557-7395 robert.manger@okhouse.gov Rep. Terry O-Donnell 405-557-7379 terry.odonnell@okhouse.gov Rep. Jim Olsen 405-557-7315 jim.olsen@okhouse.gov Rep. Mike Osburn 405-557-7360 mike.osburn@okhouse.gov Rep. David Perryman 405-557-7401 david.perryman@okhouse.gov Rep. Dustin Roberts 405-557-7366 dustin.roberts@okhouse.gov Rep. Judd Strom 405-557-7402 judd.strom@okhouse.gov Rep. Johnny Tadlock 405-557-7363 johnny.tadlock@okhouse.gov Rep. Collin Walke 405-557-7335 collin.walke@okhouse.gov Rep. Rande Worthen 405-557-7398 rande.worthen@okhouse.gov Together we can make a difference, Sabine Brown Together Oklahoma Coordinator TogetherOK’s success depends on your engagement – and there are many ways for you to get involved. Join Us   Together OK | 907 S Detroit Ave, Suite 1005, Tulsa, OK 74120 | (918) 794-3944 click here to unsubscribe | update subscription preferences | view email in browser