FAMILIES URGE ACTION ON SENTENCING BILL

Families of prison inmates came to the Capitol Thursday to support
truth-in-sentencing reforms, although legislative leaders meeting in
special session this week already have said there's not enough time to
write a credible bill.

"This is a last-minute attempt to get our lawmakers to listen to us," said
Pat Galloway of Oklahoma City, whose oldest son died in an Oklahoma prison.

A truth-in-sentencing law, including community corrections provisions, was
due to go into effect July 1, but the Senate is scheduled to vote today on
a House-passed measure that would delay implementation another year.

District attorneys told the lawmakers they also want the delay but
supported the possibility of funding limited community sentencing programs
for nonviolent offenders after their first two convictions.

Community sentencing is a part of the truth-in-sentencing bill that
provides alternatives to prison for nonviolent offenders, including
literacy training, drug treatment and time in county jails.

But some senators said the DAs' community sentencing proposal was too
restrictive, while the governor balked at providing funding unless total
agreement was reached.

Meanwhile, friends and relatives of prisoners said the current corrections
system provides unequal punishment and not enough emphasis on drug
treatment.

Melanie Mathews of Oklahoma City said when her husband was 18 years old, he
was sentenced to 30 years in prison after being convicted in Comanche
County of committing armed robbery with a BB gun, although he had no prior
arrests.

On the other hand, she pointed to the recent case of Charles Jean Porter
Jr., who faces a 21-year sentence for causing a three-fatality car crash in
Oklahoma County last year when he was under the influence of a prescription
drug.

"In our state, there are vastly differing sentences handed down depending
on the judge and the county in which the crime is tried," Mathews said.

Melissa McLawhorn, deputy director of the Oklahoma Sheriff's Association,
said her organization supports community sentencing, but it has to be
targeted at the appropriate offenders -- only those with first and
second-time convictions.

She said the community sentencing plan proposed this week still has too
many problems.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.