Some district courts are trying to decrease their county jail populations in response to the coronavirus.
The Tulsa World reports the Tulsa County District Court has ordered the releases of 70 people charged with both misdemeanors and felonies from the county jail.
Meanwhile, orders from Cleveland County district judges helped reduce the jail population nearly 15 percent.
Officials in Oklahoma County say they’re trying to set up their own hearings to free prisoners who aren’t considered dangerous.
But county jails may face another challenge. The Department of Corrections has stopped accepting new prisoners from local jails, which could contribute to overcrowding at a time when counties are trying to keep populations low.
