6 bills could help fix Oklahoma's high incarceration rate

TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) -- It's no secret that Oklahoma has the highest incarceration rate in the country.

Now, some lawmakers and criminal justice reform activists are one step closer to improving the situation.

Six bills remain this legislative session that would address the issue.

One that criminal defense attorney, Sabah Kalaf, believes will impact the state is House Bill 1269. It would basically take non-violent criminals out of jail.

This is directly related to Senate Bill 780, retroactively applying that bill to those in jail for small thefts and simple drug possessions.

The law made those crimes a misdemeanor.

"We need to focus our attention on new ideas that will bring change as opposed to the same old thing that's not," said Kalaf. "They don't need to be incarcerated. Putting someone behind bars doesn't help a drug addiction, it furthers it."

He said currently the state spends $26 million a year on incarcerating non-violent offenders.

"Those resources could be used for a lot better things than locking people up who aren't a danger to society," said Kalaf.

Two other bills include one that would end cash bail for non-violent offenders. The other clearly defining what 'possession with intent to distribute' means.

"We, as a state, need to spend more on investing in us, in the people, in the citizens, and the children. And the folks who may not have as much opportunities," said Kalaf.

Zach Stoycoff with the Tulsa Regional Chamber said it's time to change what we're doing.

He also said these bills will be good for business in the state by working with these offenders on getting a job and rehabilitated.

"Oklahoma is not a safer state as a result of mass incarceration. We need to be smart on crime, and we really need to look at how we rehabilitate people back into society, being productive members of society," said Stoycoff.

Both agree these bills may not be the perfect solution to the problem, but at least it's a start.

Lawmakers have two weeks until these bills have to be voted on by the Senate.