The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board recommended 12 of 14 prisoners for medical parole on Wednesday. The board removed two people from consideration because one was already up for parole and the other chose not to seek early release.
Medical parole is reserved for prisoners with serious health conditions and is rarely used. It allows the pardon and parole board to bypass time consuming procedures if the Department of Corrections recommends prisoners for consideration.
The agency sent this latest list of people to the board for consideration earlier this month.
Criminal justice reform advocates believe the prison agency should recommend many more prisoners to the board in light of the danger COVID-19 poses to people with serious health conditions.
The recommendations will now go to Governor Kevin Stitt.
