Oklahoma’s Interim Studies to Spotlight Prison Deaths and Conditions

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (KOKH) — Oklahoma lawmakers are cracking down on criminal justice reform in this year’s interim studies.

Representative JJ Humphrey says he’s taken a lot of heat for how critical he’s been of the Department of Corrections, but he’s not stopping now.

He’s holding sessions on felony murder cases and prison conditions.

“If we’re not willing to hear the problems, then we’re not going to fix it,” Rep. Humphrey said.

He’s taking another shot at what he called exposing injustices in the ODOC, unlocking some of the secrets hidden behind bars.

“We want to bring out all the attempts we’ve made to show these horrific rapes issues, human rights violations, locking people in two-by-two cells,” Rep. Humphrey said.

In his interim study, he’s planning to take a look at prison conditions, staffing and deaths inside the cells.

“Eight accidental deaths? Think about that. You’re locked down in a cell all day, what kind of accidents are you having that 8 people died? They ain’t getting out there and having a car wreck, they didn’t get run over by a tractor or anything like that,” he said.

His other criminal justice interim study heals with felony murder, by examining high-profile cases like death row inmate Richard Glossip’s, and looking into how new evidence can be presented.

“I was on the phone with a private investigator today on DNA cases and getting a DNA expert to come in and testify how a lot of these things are being done wrongfully in the state, and how we get these mistakes,” Rep. Humphrey said.

The date hasn’t been set for either of the studies, but Rep. Humphrey said the topics are things Oklahomans deserve to hear their state lawmakers questioning.