Oklahoma lawmakers send a work release program bill to the governor.
The Debt to Society Act allows counties to create their own work release or community service programs for nonviolent misdemeanor offenses.
"There's no directives in this to tell counties they have to do this program," said Rep. John Paul Jordan, one of the bill's authors. "We're just giving them, basically, another arrow in the quiver to be able to use this program."
People with nonviolent misdemeanors could participate and get time off their sentences or stay out of jail altogether. Jordan said it’s a good deal for counties.
"The sheriff out in Pottawatomie County, he's used work release programs and has actually found that it's beneficial when it comes to budgeting, because they're not having to — they're basically being able to use the inmates to do things around the counties without incurring costs," Jordan said.
Another part of the bill lets counties collect earnings of work release participants. Jordan said there’s no due process issue with that, because they’re guilty.
"It's going to be reviewed, again, by both the sheriff and district attorney," Jordan said. "Any program they put in place has to be reviewed by the district judge."
Whatever’s left after deducting incarceration costs, administrative expenses, court-ordered restitution, court costs and child support would be returned to the participant.
The bill awaits action by the governor.
