Oklahoma Survivor Justice Coalition Applauds Senate Passage of Oklahoma Survivors’ Act
Senate Bill 1470 would allow sentencing courts to resentence survivors of domestic violence whose victimization was a significant factor in their underlying offense.
Related to: Sentencing Reform
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – The Oklahoma Survivor Justice Coalition applauds the Oklahoma Senate for unanimously passing the Oklahoma Survivors’ Act (Senate Bill 1470). This legislation would allow sentencing courts to resentence survivors of domestic violence whose victimization was a significant factor in their underlying offense. The Oklahoma Survivors’ Act would also give courts the ability to impose lower sentences on survivors of domestic violence in the future.
“Oklahoma is in the midst of a domestic violence crisis, ranking first in the country in the perpetration of domestic violence and third in domestic homicides. At the same time, Oklahoma’s legal system is structured to punish survivors who defend themselves,” said Tara Tyler, Executive Director of Ponca City’s Survivor Resource Network. “The Oklahoma Survivors Act is a beacon of hope for domestic abuse survivors across the state. We applaud the Senate for unanimously passing this bill, and we urge the Oklahoma House of Representatives to pass this bill as written.”
“Passage of the Oklahoma Survivors Act is a massive step forward, and we are grateful to Oklahoma Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat and House Majority Floor Leader Jon Echols for their support as authors on this bill,” said Colleen McCarty—co-founder of the Oklahoma Survivor Justice Coalition and Executive Director of Oklahoma Appleseed. “However, our work is not yet done. This bill has widespread multi-partisan support from the public, and the legislature. A similar domestic violence survivors’ bill did not pass in the previous legislative session which left behind survivors who are imprisoned unjustly. Oklahoma cannot leave these survivors behind again this year. We call on the Oklahoma House to pass this bill as it is written.”
About The OK Survivor Justice Coalition:
The OK Survivor Justice Coalition is a diverse group that represents directly impacted leaders, attorneys, and advocates for incarcerated survivors. The coalition advocates for safety and freedom for Oklahoma’s survivors of domestic violence both pre- and post- incarceration. Members of the Coalition include: Oklahoma Appleseed, DVIS, Inc., She Brews Coffeehouse, Right on Crime, Fair and Just Prosecution, RISE Program, Human Rights for Kids, FWD.us, Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform, Oklahoma Policy Institute, Schusterman Family Philanthropies, Block Builderz, YWCA-OKC, The Sentencing Project, End Violence Oklahoma, Free April Wilkens, Foundation for Liberating Minds, Terence Crutcher Foundation, His House Ministries.
