Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to override a governor's veto and pass a bill that authorizes leniency for criminal defendants if they can show abuse contributed to their offense in Oklahoma.

Highlights:

• Authorizes leniency for criminal defendants if they can show abuse contributed to their offense in Oklahoma (Sec. 1-5).

• Establishes the Oklahoma Survivors’ Act and directs courts to consider certain mitigating factors during sentencing and pleas requiring defendants to provide certain evidence (Sec. 1-5).

• Authorizes court discretion to depart from applicable sentences (Sec. 1-5).

• Authorizes courts to impose lesser sentences under certain circumstances and provides for the introduction of certain arguments and testimony (Sec. 1-5).

• Authorizes defendants with certain sentences to request an application for resentencing; requiring the inclusion of certain information when making the request (Sec. 1-5).

• Establishes jurisdictional requirements and provides notice procedures when granting or denying requests allowing defendants to request the appointment of counsel; 

• Requires court clerks to send notification to the appropriate district attorney (Sec. 1-5).

• Requires the inclusion of certain evidence with applications and for denial of applications (Sec. 1-5). 

• Establishes hearing procedures upon approval of applications providing notice procedures for orders issued by the court and authorizes for the appeal of orders (Sec. 1-5).

• Authorizes applicants to request the appointment of counsel and requires time served to be credited toward the sentence (Sec. 1-5).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect November 1, 2024 (Sec. 6).

Full Bill Text

Vetoed by Governor Kevin Stitt

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes leniency for criminal defendants if they can show abuse contributed to their offense in Oklahoma.

Highlights:

• Authorizes leniency for criminal defendants if they can show abuse contributed to their offense in Oklahoma (Sec. 1-5).

• Establishes the Oklahoma Survivors’ Act and directs courts to consider certain mitigating factors during sentencing and pleas requiring defendants to provide certain evidence (Sec. 1-5).

• Authorizes court discretion to depart from applicable sentences (Sec. 1-5).

• Authorizes courts to impose lesser sentences under certain circumstances and provides for the introduction of certain arguments and testimony (Sec. 1-5).

• Authorizes defendants with certain sentences to request an application for resentencing; requiring the inclusion of certain information when making the request (Sec. 1-5).

• Establishes jurisdictional requirements and provides notice procedures when granting or denying requests allowing defendants to request the appointment of counsel; 

• Requires court clerks to send notification to the appropriate district attorney (Sec. 1-5).

• Requires the inclusion of certain evidence with applications and for denial of applications (Sec. 1-5). 

• Establishes hearing procedures upon approval of applications providing notice procedures for orders issued by the court and authorizes for the appeal of orders (Sec. 1-5).

• Authorizes applicants to request the appointment of counsel and requires time served to be credited toward the sentence (Sec. 1-5).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect November 1, 2024 (Sec. 6).

Full Bill Text