Might a notable celebrity endorsement help move a notable criminal justice reform ballot initiative toward passage in Oklahoma?
The question in the title of this post is prompted by this local press story headlined "Actress Scarlett Johansson supports Okla. State Question 805 in video." Here are the basics from this short article (which includes the short video):
Actress Scarlett Johansson supported Oklahoma's State Question 805 in a video shared by Oklahomans for Sentencing Reform.
State Question 805, if passed on Nov. 3, ends repeat sentence penalties for nonviolent offenses in the state of Oklahoma, said officials with Oklahomans for Sentencing Reform. The penalties often add years, decades or even a life sentence for a nonviolent offense if someone had been convicted of a nonviolent offense in the past.
Oklahoma's overcrowded prisons put more women in prison per capita than any state in the nation, Oklahoma to lead the nation in incarceration rates. This is costing taxpayers over half a billion each year on corrections without improving public safety, said officials. If passed, State Question 805 will save the state almost $186 million over the next decade. This funding "could be reinvested in mental health and rehabilitative resources that have been proven to reduce the likelihood that someone will commit another crime," said officials.
State Question 805 is on the ballot in November 3, 2020 elections.
The full endorsement video, which is fairly somber and sadly does not include Black Widow costume or any other Avenger, is available at this link. I have blogged a few times about this fascinating approach to criminal justice reform, which the "Yes on 805" campaign website describes this way:
WHAT DOES SQ 805 DO?
SQ 805 would end the practice of adding years to a person’s prison sentence for a nonviolent crime because they had a prior nonviolent conviction. Under SQ 805, people who are convicted of nonviolent crimes could be sentenced up to the maximum allowable time in prison for their crime, but would not receive additional time in prison because of their past. SQ 805 applies only to people with nonviolent offenses.
WHY IS SQ 805 NEEDED?
Oklahoma is handing down cruel and unfair sentences for minor crimes. A second conviction for breaking into a shed can result in a life sentence. In Oklahoma an individual served 33 years in prison for writing $400 worth of bad checks, and a mother was sentenced to 15 years for stealing basic necessities and children’s toys from a Walmart. SQ 805 will limit sentences like these that are out of proportion to the crimes.
Unsurprisingly, the "No on SQ 805" campaign website present a distinct account of what this initiative would mean and do:
State Question 805 (SQ805) will create a culture where crime is okay in Oklahoma by reducing penalties for career criminals. With SQ805, habitual offenders of serious crimes will spend less time in prison. These crimes range from domestic violence in the presence of a child, home burglary, to child trafficking, soliciting sex from a minor using technology, animal cruelty and more.
- SQ 805 will FOREVER treat convicted felons who repeatedly commit crimes, on any but the most heinous of crimes, to the same sentence range as first-time offenders.
- SQ 805 is a CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE which prohibits the legislature from addressing any of the myriad of negative consequences SQ 805 will bring.
- SQ 805 is retroactive and will mandate reduced sentences for many of those currently in prison, disregarding the juries and judges who gave out those sentences.
- Regardless of if the criminal has been convicted of a felony 20 or more times, under 805, the sentence can never be lengthened or enhanced because of these past actions.
This Ballotpedia page about SQ 805 provides a lot more background information about this initiative, but it does not reference any polling about the measure. I know this initiative is one I will be watching closely on election night. If it were to pass in a state like Oklahoma, it could well be rolled out in other initiative states in the years to come.
Prior related posts:
- Oklahoma ballot initiative (State Question 805) seeks to block non-violent prior convictions from enhancing statutory range of punishment (from Feb 2020)
- Fascinating Oklahoma initiative seeking to block non-violent prior convictions from enhancing statutory range of punishment qualifies for ballot (from July 2020)
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