January 27, 2024 Issue, Page 9 of 10

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January 27, 2024 The Elk City News -9 Five Criminal Justice Bills to Watch in 2024 By Keaton Ross ‘Thompson's proposal bail amounts to the Office of participation and ease reentry Bill Number: House Bill A push to modernize Okla- would increase the maximum Management and Enterprise barriers, lawmakers have em- 3082 homa’s criminal code fell short Proposals to mandate pre- first-time sentence for do- braced expungement reform. Services. The information Sponsor: Justin Hum- in the final weeks of last year’s trial data collection, crack would be publicly accessible on In 2022 the Legislature passed mestic abuse by strangulation phrey, R-Lane legislative session, but law- down on domestic abuse and from three to 10 years in state a state-run website. House Bill 3316, which autho- This bill authorizes state makers appear poised to take expand expungement eligibil- custody. Domestic abuse by justice ‘Advocates for expanded rized the state to automati- elected officials to enter any another crack at it in 2024. data collection argue ity are among the criminal jus- strangulation can cause long- the information would allow cally expunge certain criminal state prison at any time to Moore's bill groups felonies tice bills eligible to be consid- term injuries and trauma and state lawmakers to craft better offenses. State officials expect inspect conditions and inter- by severity with common sen- ered during the 2024 regular has been shown by researchers reform policies. Several states, the system to launch by 2026. view staff and inmates. Penn- tencing ranges. The proposal legislative session. to be a precursor to homicide, including Florida and Michi- ‘The manual expungement sylvania enforces a similar law. as currently written does not Oklahoma's criminal justice Oklahoma Watch reported in gan, have enacted similar legis- process is complex and typi- Humphrey, who chairs include sentencing ranges, but system has rebounded from 2019. lation in recent years. cally requires applicants to the House Criminal Justice that could be modified as the delays and logistical challenges Other anti-domestic vio- “All of our conversations on hire an attorney. Those who and Corrections Commit- legislative process progresses. presented by the COVID-19 lence bills filed would add do- reformceration or alternatives to incar- can't afford to pay thousands really are centered on tee, told Oklahoma Watch in Critics of Oklahoma's cur- pandemic. While the threat of mestic abuse to the Oklahoma of dollars in fees may struggle November he would look to rent criminal code say it lacks emotion and not fact,” Blanc- boost prison accountability in uniformity and causes sen- ett said. “I, coming from a busi- to find secure housing and em- coronavirus behind bars has Violent Crimes Registration response to reports of poor tencing ranges to vary widely waned, concerns about an up- Act and reclassify domestic ployment. ness background, feel like it’s conditions at the Great Plains tick in the state’s prison popu- abuse against a pregnant wom- anasa felony. important to get agnostic data “When someone has a Correctional Facility in Hin- from county to county. For instance, a second offense lation, poor conditions at some that’s not bent to drive a con- conviction on their record ton. Last year dozens of Great correctional facilities and the More than 25,000 domestic or even a deferred sentence, Plains prisoners were confined of second-degree burglary is abuse incidents were reported clusion, but rather inform and punishable by two years to treatment of mentally ill de- to Oklahoma law enforcement tell us what the heck is going those things are huge barriers to 3-by-2.5-foot shower stalls tainees persist. in 2021, a slight decrease from on out there.” to getting the job that really for several hours or days due life in prison. ‘The legislative Here are five bills to watch 2020 but higher than the aver- pays enough to live on or get- to backlogs in the facility's re- push to reform Oklahoma's Expanding Expungement stricted housing unit. in the 2024 legislative session, age total from 2011 to 2021. Eligibility ting safe housing that requires criminal code accelerated after In response to the pro- voters in 2020 rejected State which convenes on Feb. 5: Mandating Pretrial Data Bill Number: House Bill a background check,” Rachel posal, corrections department Cracking Down on Domes- Collection Bill Number: House Bill 3037 Delcour, the criminal justice spokesperson Kay Thompson Question 805, which proposed tic Abuse Sponsor: Preston Stinson, director for Women in Recov- said the agency has an open barring courts from imposing 3957 Bill Number: Senate Bill Sponsor: Meloyde Blancett, R-Edmond ery, told Oklahoma Watch in door policy with elected of- sentence enhancements for 1211 This bill would authorize 2022. “We want to save people ficials and the measure is un- certain crimes. While versions D-Tulsa Sponsor: Kristen Thomp- This bill would require dis- the expungement of most mis- money, but more than that I necessary. of a classification bill passed son, R-Edmond trict attorneys, police depart- demeanor offenses three years want people to get better jobs Creating a Felony Classifi- out of the House and Senate As Oklahoma’s domestic ments and jailers to submit after the completion of a sen- and better housing and remove cation System last year, the proposal stalled violence rate trends up, several tence. The current waiting pe- some of those barriers.” Bill Number: House Bill monthly data on felony and in a Senate conference com- bills look to increase punish- misdemeanor charging deci- riod is five years. Authorizing Unannounced 3455 ments for abusers. sions, average jail stays and Looking to boost workforce Prison Visits Sponsor: Anthony Moore, mittee and failed to reach the R-Clinton governor's desk. Wild Turkey Population Dynamics And Brood MISDEMEANORS Survival Project Report For December 2023 MISDEMEANORS Provided by the Oklahoma ters on all of them. Analyses of waiting to hear from the land- ers secured all necessary per- StateofOkla vs Matthew T Newman Public Cooperative Fish and Wild- camera trap images from last owner at the other. mits for sending the e-DNA intoxication. Disturbing the peace life Research Unit, Oklahoma season continued. ‘The use of camera traps to swab samples taken from pre- State of Okla vsBenjamin A Sims DUS. Expired/ State University SOUTHWESTERN OKLA- estimate predator densities dated adults and nests to Wild- improper tag Wild turkey genetics, nest- HOMA POPULATION STUDY will be expanded in the south- life Genetics International in FELONIES ing success, and brood survival AREA: The team searched for west this season to 80 cameras Canada for predator identifica- State of Okla vs Camron Tucker Conspiracy are among the research topics and downloaded data fromdeployed over a greater area. tion, and shipped the samples. State of Okla vs Mikel J Bohannon Assault & battery in a 4.5-year, $2 million study Camera deployment will also hens that remain from last Interviews continued for launched in 2022 by the Okla- begin in January as opposed to technician positions, and the season. Five birds were located onan officer. Destroying evidence. Obstructing & resisting. homa Department of Wildlife (one of them in Texas), but the April and continue through the final technician for the season ‘Threatening an act of violence. Possession of CS Conservation, the Oklahoma battery levels for two of those nesting season. was hired. State of Okla vs Francisco Frias Possession & Cooperative Fish and Wildlife five transmitters were too Preparations for winter GENETICS STUDY: Re- distribution of CS. Use of vehicle in discharge of weapon Research Unit, and partner- depleted to allow data down- captures continued. Interviews searchers finished the initial State of Okla vs Clayton S$ Hays Manslaughter ing with National Wild Turkey load. Six birds captured and continued for technician posi- data cleanup and merged data Federation, Turkeys For To- equipped with transmitters in tions, and the final technician for each chromosome. Prelimi- nary analysis of the data has KH Coffectine Cobamn morrow, and private landown- 2023 were not located. for the season was hired. ers to address wild turkey pop- Researchers found a new Researchers began explor- started. Further analysis will ulation dynamics. Following roosting location in Beckham ing turkey movement and ac- assess genetic diversity, in- is a summary of recent study County and secured permis- celerometer data, and conduct- breeding, and genetic differen- activities. sion from the landowner to ed some preliminary analyses. tiation. Examination of genet- With Andy & Renie Bowman Research teams took deliv- trap at that location. In Har- SOUTHEASTERN OKLA- ic structure will be performed. ery of 40 new GPS transmit- mon County, they received HOMA POPULATION STUDY Each will be cross-validated to ters at the end of December and calibrated the accelerome- permission to trap at one of the sites from last year and are AREA: Preparations for winter captures continued. Research- assess which analysis provides the best result. “The Opposing Thumb Guy” OSU students eligible for free Take a good look. It’s always there, part of a healthy, whole hand. Hold up your hand and you'll see it. The one digit that is cooking classes on campus pointing the opposite of the other four fingers, every time. Oh yeah, you can force it to go along with all the others, but you do have to work at it. Usually, it just naturally sticks out to the side, By Trisha Gedon to fit vegetarian and vegan preferences, class has been positive. like “a sore thumb.” It’s always just a little different and obsti- and we used protein substitutes such as “The students would show up to class STILLWATER. - Students at Okla- lentils and tofu.” excited, and some said it was the highlight nately curving away from all the others - but it sure serves a great homa State University are well-versed in Some of the recipes students prepared of their week,” she said. “The students not purpose. attending classes, taking notes and test last fall included skillet lasagna, chicken only enjoyed trying new recipes but also ‘Try this. Tuck away the thumb on your hand, and try to do any preparation. Still, some may need assis- pad Thai, chicken skewers and chicken meeting new people.” small physical task with your remaining four fingers. Write, pick tance with developing skills in food prepa~ skillet. Marissa Story, a senior majoring in up anything, or stir with a spoon. Doable, but a lot more difficult, ration, healthy cooking techniques, food Jackson said students learned knife communication sciences and disorders, huh? Because the thumb has the responsibility of creating an op- safety and nutrition. skills, how to use a meat thermometer, took the class with her boyfriend. posing force to the fingers, it allows us to grab an object. Its very Cooking with Extension and Pete’s food safety and adaptability in the kitch- nature is to be in opposition, and it’s very good at what it does. “Tove Pete's Pantry on campus and the Pantry is a joint effort of OSU Exten- en. resources that are available to students Same thing seems to occur in human groups. Put more than sion, Community Nutrition Education “Many students don’thave fully stocked Programs, Pete's Pantry, Basic Needs Re- facing food insecurity. When I got the two people together and you sooner or later you will spot “the kitchens, so they have to work with what thumb.” The one who just naturally seems to be different from sources and the University of Oklahoma’s they have,” he said. “If a recipe called to email about the class, we signed up imme- everyone else in their ideas and beliefs. As if it's their job to be Oklahoma Nutrition Information and Ed- cover the pot and simmer but there wasn’t diately,” she said. “While I enjoy cooking, the opposition in most situations, and believe me, they are totally ucation Project. The free, five-week pilot alid available, we taught them how to use I'ma community mentor living on campus up for it. program in the fall of 2023 proved to be so a baking sheet as a lid. They also learned so I don't have a lot of experience doing successful that a second five-week course about how much protein, carbs, fruits and it. My boyfriend struggles with eating cer- But just like the real thumb on a hand, “the thumb” on a com- will be offered this spring semester, begin- vegetables are needed each day.” tain foods and textures, andI thought this mittee, or at a party, or in any kind of work or social group usually ning in February. In addition to gaining experience in would be a great learning opportunity for serves a purpose. And it’s not to sound good, or act pretty, or lik- Each class combines 30 minutes of the kitchen, Jackson said participants also both of us.” able - that really isn’t their focus. In fact, they can come across as dlassroom learning and 30 minutes of learned how to determine a grocery bud- Story said the class exceeded her ex- the very opposite of pretty. But still, the thumb of the group does cooking to teach students how to prepare get and shop wisely to get the most for pectations. One of her most valuable take- have a practical function. delicious and nutritious meals, their food dollars. aways was learning that cooking doesn't Just like the thumb on your hand, an opposing force is cre- Parker Jackson, Community and Nu- “We want to make this class as inclu- have to be complicated. ated. And ideas that have been easily accepted by everyone else trition Education Programs educator and sive as possible. Groceries are expensive, “Cooking food that tastes good isn’t get challenged. Though that may get irritating, it can serve the program coordinator with OSU Extension, and Pete’s Pantry is a wonderful resource as hard as we think it is,” she said. “We group well. When ‘The Thumb’s new opposing ideas get tossed said the collaborative effort began with a to help members of the OSU family have learned we can make great tasting, nutri- into the mix they may undoubtedly create animosity - but at the discussion between the Community Nu- healthy foods to eat,” he said. tious meals by sticking to the basics. The same time those new ideas start people to actually thinking. And trition Education Programs and Pete’s Cassidy Davis, graduate assistant for coordinators of the class make it fun be- that is never a bad thing. Because it causes those accepted ideas Pantry, OSU's on-campus food bank, in Basic Needs Resources and Pete’s Pantry, cause they were so enthusiastic.” to be defended and developed better than the original. the summer of 2023. The Oklahoma Nu- assisted with the coordination and imple- She encourages other students to sign Just like the Creator had a great idea when the thumb was de- trition Information and Education Project mentation of the cooking classes. provided the curriculum for the classroom “The students benefitted by not only up for the session that begins in February. signed to be in opposition, The Thumb in your group is probably getting a warm, nutritious meal each All OSU-Stillwater students are eligible a good addition. Sure, I realize that the sore thumb always seems segment, and the food was donated by Pete's Pantry. week, but also learning and utilizing prop- to participate. Each five-week course is to stir up trouble and cause friction...but he or she may be exactly “A lot of college students don’t have er cooking techniques and understanding limited to 25 participants. Students will what your committee or workplace needs, to keep from becoming much experience in the kitchen preparing the benefits of healthy eatin; receive an announcement in their OSU vun-of-the-mill and stale. healthy food,” Jackson said, “The students “The curriculum we used is great at con- email accounts with information about After all, it’s the spices you add to your soup that prevent it involved in the pilot class prepared a dif- necting students to various nutritional the next class. from being bland. And bland soup is rarely in demand. ferent recipe each week using ingredients information they may not have known For more information, contact Jack- So learn to thank God for that sore thumb of your group. And from Pete's Pantry and recipes from US- otherwise.” son at 405-744 -6699 or parker,jackson@ learn to be patient. DA's MyPlate. The recipes were adaptable Davis said the feedback from the pilot okstate.edu.