As Oklahoma Faith Leaders, we stand together against proposed House Bill 3903, which would prohibit members of the pardon and parole board from hearing cases based on innocence claims.
We know that the criminal legal system sometimes gets it wrong, as demonstrated by the stories of at least 38 documented wrongful convictions in Oklahoma. Our state should take every available opportunity to ensure that true justice is served in every case, for every person. Oklahoma cannot run the risk of executing an innocent person, nor continuing to incarcerate one who is innocent of a crime.
We ask the Majority Leader of the Oklahoma House of Representatives to not allow this bill to be heard. We ask every member of the House of Representatives to reject this bill, if a vote is required.
There cannot be too many opportunities in our state for relief in matters of life, death or freedom.
Updates
March 4, 2022
Seeing the growing momentum behind this effort provides me with a heavy but necessary comfort. The path ahead remains steep and exhausting yet seeing so many others acknowledge the gravity of this issue keeps me moving forward.
24 Comments
As a pastor, I believe we need to use every means possible to protect all human life, including those in prison.
The justice system sometimes makes a mistake and convict an innocent person. These persons must be allowed to request pardons from the Pardon and Parole Board. It is inhumane to deny this right, and it is arrogant for anyone to think that the legislature could know now whether someone in the future should or should not be allowed to request a pardon without the legislature's even having heard their case. Hearing such cases is the purview of the Pardon and Parole Board, and the Board must be allowed to do its job.
How can we be so arrogant as to think humans will never get it wrong when it has already happened 38 times!
This bill is a way to take all rights from the inmates and concerned citizens. It appears to be more of an act or retaliation than justice or reform.
Oklahoma has failed to atone for the injustices it has brought against people of color and other marginalized people groups. This will further harm and threaten the beauty of justice in our state. HB3903 will prevent the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board from having the opportunity to recommend that someone that was wrongly convicted and sentenced to death the opportunity to be released. Finally Oklahoma has a dark history as it relates to the misuse of capital punishment. According to the innoncent project 10 individuals sentenced to death have been exonerated.
This is unconstitutional and entirely immoral.
We should do the right thing
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As Oklahoma Faith Leaders, we stand together against proposed House Bill 3903, which would prohibit members of the pardon and parole board from hearing cases based on innocence claims.
We know that the criminal legal system sometimes gets it wrong, as demonstrated by the stories of at least 38 documented wrongful convictions in Oklahoma. Our state should take every available opportunity to ensure that true justice is served in every case, for every person. Oklahoma cannot run the risk of executing an innocent person, nor continuing to incarcerate one who is innocent of a crime.
We ask the Majority Leader of the Oklahoma House of Representatives to not allow this bill to be heard. We ask every member of the House of Representatives to reject this bill, if a vote is required.
There cannot be too many opportunities in our state for relief in matters of life, death or freedom.
Updates
March 4, 2022
Seeing the growing momentum behind this effort provides me with a heavy but necessary comfort. The path ahead remains steep and exhausting yet seeing so many others acknowledge the gravity of this issue keeps me moving forward.
24 Comments
Ignoring the possibility of innocence is a crime with two victims-the initial victim of the crime and the accused innocent. The perpetrator got away with the initial crime and the state perpetuates the other. It’s time we quit looking for what is easy rather than what is right Reject this bill.
As a pastor, I believe we need to use every means possible to protect all human life, including those in prison.
The justice system sometimes makes a mistake and convict an innocent person. These persons must be allowed to request pardons from the Pardon and Parole Board. It is inhumane to deny this right, and it is arrogant for anyone to think that the legislature could know now whether someone in the future should or should not be allowed to request a pardon without the legislature's even having heard their case. Hearing such cases is the purview of the Pardon and Parole Board, and the Board must be allowed to do its job.
How can we be so arrogant as to think humans will never get it wrong when it has already happened 38 times!
This bill is a way to take all rights from the inmates and concerned citizens. It appears to be more of an act or retaliation than justice or reform.
Oklahoma has failed to atone for the injustices it has brought against people of color and other marginalized people groups. This will further harm and threaten the beauty of justice in our state. HB3903 will prevent the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board from having the opportunity to recommend that someone that was wrongly convicted and sentenced to death the opportunity to be released. Finally Oklahoma has a dark history as it relates to the misuse of capital punishment. According to the innoncent project 10 individuals sentenced to death have been exonerated.
This is unconstitutional and entirely immoral.
We should do the right thing
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Ignoring the possibility of innocence is a crime with two victims-the initial victim of the crime and the accused innocent. The perpetrator got away with the initial crime and the state perpetuates the other. It’s time we quit looking for what is easy rather than what is right Reject this bill.