SENTENCING LAW ADVOCATED --

Motorists Who Kill Would Face Tougher Prison Terms

A motorist convicted of killing someone in a traffic accident would face a
tougher prison term if truth-in-sentencing legislation passes, a public
defender and senator said Thursday.

Court records show that Randy Dean Allen, convicted of first-degree
manslaughter in a 1985 traffic accident that killed a man, served only a
year in prison.

Allen, 33, is being held in Canadian County on three murder complaints in
the deaths Monday of his estranged wife's ex-husband and two children.

Under the truth-in-sentencing law, Allen probably would have faced a
mandatory sentence of more than six years, said Bob Ravitz, head of the
Oklahoma County Public Defender's Office. Also, he said family members
would not have to worry about making appearances before the state parole
board during those six years if the truth-in-sentencing law were enacted.

Sen. Cal Hobson, D-Lexington, said the Allen case points out why it is
important that the Legislature and governor do more than delay pending
truth-in-sentencing legislation.

On the final day of the legislative session Friday, the House voted to
delay enacting a truth-in-sentencing bill at least for a year. But the
Senate adjourned without taking action.

That prompted Gov. Frank Keating to call for a special session planned to
start June 15, although the governor hasn't made an official declaration.

The Senate is expected to follow the House's lead and simply call for a
delay, which means the issue would not be considered until after the
November general election.

Both Hobson and House author Dwayne Steidley, D-Claremore, urged the
governor's office to delineate "in writing" what problems it has with the
last version of the bill.

Richard Kirby, the governor's deputy general counsel, said no request has
been made for written comments, but officials met Friday to discuss the
issue.

Hobson said the bill now contains provisions calling for "habitualization,"
which greatly accelerates a sentence when a person has been convicted three
times.

Kirby said how that works is not clear in the bill. He said he does agree
with changes regarding burglaries, which call for stiffer sentences.