TREATMENT MAY BE BETTER ANSWER FOR THOSE CONVICTED OF POSSESSION

Oklahoma prisons are full of drug offenders. Drug possession has been the
state's top-ranked felony offense for the past seven years.

A question that must be debated, but is tricky for legislators, is should
people convicted only of drug possession be spending time in prison at all?

The Oklahoma Sentencing Commission has scrutinized statistics on felony
sentencing and made a series of recommendations for legislators. Out of
seven suggestions to broaden the use of probated sentences and modified
sentencing for some drug offenders, only three made it into a bill. That
bill died on the Senate floor.

Legislators who voted against the recommendations have said they believe
they could be perceived as being soft on crime for advocating treatment
rather than prison for certain drug offenders.

However, it does seem logical sentencing guidelines need to reflect the
danger drug offenders pose to themselves and others, and alternatives
sought to actual prison time for those who merely are in jail for possession.

Statistics show many females in prison are there for possession offenses,
rather than the more serious crimes, such as trafficking or violent
felonies associated with drug possession.

Of course, as District Attorney Cathy Stocker pointed out, some of these
statistics on drug possession may be skewed due to plea bargains where more
serious trafficking or possession charges are reduced.

Yet, with prison space at a premium and a very high cost associated with
keeping prisoners in jail, wouldn't it make sense to work on some specific
laws that would provide for probation for certain drug offenders?

It's not an easy solution, but it is one that deserves a chance. If all the
measures fail this year, we hope the sentencing commission works on some
more possible solutions to bring to legislators in the future. And,
lawmakers need to be open to the fact sentencing reform is needed and just
makes sense.