State leaders oppose SQ 805

On Thursday, October 29, 2020, a large group of state officials, law enforcement leaders, domestic violence survivors, and community leaders gathered for a press conference to urge Oklahomans to vote NO on SQ805. Speakers included Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell, Attorney General Mike Hunter, former First Lady Cathy Keating, Oklahoma FOP president Mark Nelson, Kim Garrett, CEO & Founder, Palomar Domestic Violence Resource Center, criminal justice reformer Tricia Everest, Oklahoma Farm Bureau president Rodd Moesel, Tulsa County Sheriff Vic Regalado, and attorney Marc Nuttle.

Lt. Gov. Pinnell noted the progress that has already been made under existing, legislative reform efforts. "There is an Oklahoma brand of criminal justice reform that takes a common sense approach. We've already reduced the prison population 20% with common sense reforms. 805 is the wrong solution."

Oklahoma FOP president Mark Nelson spoke to the commonplace situation of repeat domestic violence, "You hear the address come across the radio, and you know the offenses that have already been committed in that house.... State Question 805 is about keeping violent career criminals out of jail."

Deb Stanaland, a survivor of domestic violence who now serves as a domestic violence responder, pointed out that the early release of repeat domestic violence offenders would send victims the signal that the wrongs they suffered are unimportant. "Trust is important to Domestic Violence victims. That trust will be broken if you break those promises to victims."

Kim Garrett, the founder and CEO of Palomar Domestic Violence Resource Center in Oklahoma City, spoke of the unanimous opposition to SQ805 among domestic violence victims, and the peace and gratitude that victims feel knowing that their imprisoned abusers cannot get to them. "A victim I've spoken with is grateful for her husband's prison sentence, so that her daughter could turn 18 and be out of the house and not risk being killed by him.... I have no doubt that women and children will be the victims of this sloppy and careless reform.... Victims strongly oppose it, and their very lives may depend you voting against it."

Greg Mashburn, the district attorney for Cleveland, Garvin, and McClain counties in southern central Oklahoma, points out that by reducing sentences, SQ 805 will reduce the incentives repeat offenders have to agree to drug courts and diversion programs that would give them a chance to reform.

The full press conference is available for viewing on Facebook.