The Oklahoman

Pardon and Parole Board backs commutatio­n for 22

- BY DARLA SLIPKE Staff Writer dslipke@oklahoman.com

The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted Wednesday to recommend sentence reductions for 22 inmates who are being assisted through a commutatio­n campaign.

Those cases now go to the governor for final considerat­ion.

Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform, a bipartisan coalition of community leaders, has been leading an effort to help more than two dozen inmates seek commutatio­ns. The applicants they are assisting would all face lesser or no prison time if sentenced today under reforms recently approved by voters and legislator­s. Those reforms include State Question 780, which reclassifi­ed some drug and property crimes as misdemeano­rs rather than felonies but didn’t apply retroactiv­ely.

Commutatio­n is a rare form of clemency meant to correct unjust or excessive sentences.

On Wednesday, 23 of the individual­s being assisted through the campaign had a stage two hearing before the Pardon and Parole Board. The lone applicant who did not receive a favorable recommenda­tion from the board had a few misconduct­s while in custody, said Corbin Brewster, chief public defender

for Tulsa County.

The Tulsa County Public Defender’s Office, University of Tulsa law students, service providers and other advocates have alsoassist­ed with the campaign.

Next month, the remaining eight inmates are slated to have their stage two hearing.

Danielle Ezell, a board member for Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform, said they are grateful for the board’s decisions Wednesday, but their work is not done.

“The Legislatur­e will kick off in early February, and we are urging them to look at these sentences,” she said. “There’s over 1,000 folks in for simple drug possession that if charged today would not be incarcerat­ed, and we’d like to see those charges retroactiv­e.”

Throughout the day Wednesday, inmates, their family members and other advocates shared stories of transforma­tion and fielded questions from the board. During an initial review of the cases this summer, some board members expressed concerns about releasing people who have struggled with drug or alcohol addictions without any sort of treatment or supervisio­n. On Wednesday, they asked the inmates about their plans if released and what sorts of supports they would have in place.

“Our big concern, especially when it comes to commutatio­ns, is we generally do not see a very high success rate on the outside if there’s not a really good support system in place,” Pardon and Parole Board member Brett Macy said while discussing one of the cases.

Those involved with the campaign have been working to help the applicants line up re-entry and treatment services where appropriat­e.

Tears turned to smiles that melded with more tears for Katara Wheeler’s family after the Pardon and Parole Board voted in favor of commuting her sentence.

Wheeler is serving time for drug possession charges. Brianna Kennedy, Wheeler’s 25-yearold daughter, told the board it’s been hard to watch her mom battle drug addiction and come in and out of her life. Since her mom went to prison, she’s heard a different tone in her voice, Kennedy said. She said her mom sounds like “a totally different person now.”

“This will not only be a life-changing experience for her, but my family also,” Kennedy told the board.

 ?? [PHOTO BY CHRIS LANDSBERGE­R, THE OKLAHOMAN] ?? Kayla Jo Jeffries speaks as she makes an appearance during an Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board meeting for a second stage commutatio­n hearing Wednesday in Oklahoma City.
[PHOTO BY CHRIS LANDSBERGE­R, THE OKLAHOMAN] Kayla Jo Jeffries speaks as she makes an appearance during an Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board meeting for a second stage commutatio­n hearing Wednesday in Oklahoma City.

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