OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Legislation that would allow
prisoners age 65 and older to request a parole hearing has been approved
by the Oklahoma House.
House members voted 54-36 for the measure Thursday and sent it to the Senate for consideration.
The measure by Rep. Jeannie McDaniel of Tulsa would
create the Parole of Aging Prisoners Act to allow aging prisoners to
request parole after completing 10 years or one-third of their prison
sentence. The Pardon and Parole Board would recommend parole only if the
board finds that the inmate does not pose a risk to public safety.
McDaniel says allowing elderly prisoners who don't
pose a risk to public safety to be released from prison on parole will
free up some of the state's crowded prison cells.
Online:
House Bill 1056: http://bit.ly/ZrQjZg
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