Study shows prison admissions rise amidst early reform efforts

(Information from: Tulsa World, http://www.tulsaworld.com)
TULSA, Okla. (AP) – A new report says Oklahoma prison admissions are rising despite efforts to slow the state’s incarceration rate, which is the highest in the U.S.
The Tulsa World reports that prison reform advocates Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform and FWD.us released the study Friday.
The report says Department of Corrections admissions increased by 11 percent in the first year since State Question 780 took effect. Voters approved downgrading offenses including simple drug possession from felonies to misdemeanors.
The report says prosecutions from Tulsa County are among those driving the increase. Oklahoma County saw admissions drop by 9 percent.
Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler says some of the increases can be attributed to cases that began before the state question took effect but were completed during the report’s yearlong study period.