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Oklahoma House passes sentencing reform for victims of domestic violence

Abi Ruth Martin
/
Legislative Services Bureau

After a similar bill stalled in the legislature last year, a bill that seeks to provide sentencing reform for victims of domestic violence is one step closer to becoming law.

Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat’s bill passed on the House floor 84-3 on Wednesday, after passing on the Senate floor unanimously last month.

The bill would create the Oklahoma Survivors' Act, which would allow defendants to provide evidence they were victims of domestic abuse within the year they committed a crime.

If the court finds the defendant was a victim of abuse during the relevant period and the abuse was a substantial contributing factor to the crime, their sentence could be reduced.

The bill revives proposed legislation from last year, which was passed unanimously by the House but ultimately lost momentum in the Senate after language allowing for the sentencing reform to be applied retroactively was removed.

It now goes to Gov. Kevin Stitt’s desk for signature.

Hannah France is a reporter and producer for KGOU.
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