Legislation creating new requirements for courts to consider risk assessments when making pretrial release decisions has been signed into law.
Senate Bill 1618, known as the Public Protection Act, requires courts to use validated risk assessments and public safety reporting to help determine whether a defendant is likely to commit additional crimes, fail to appear in court or pose a threat to public safety.
Oklahoma Representative Erick Harris said the law will provide judges with more consistent information when deciding whether a defendant should be released before trial.
“When someone is arrested for a crime, one of the first questions should be whether releasing that individual poses a risk to the public,” Harris said.
The measure also establishes reporting requirements intended to provide lawmakers, courts and the public with additional information about pretrial outcomes and reoffending rates.
Oklahoma Senator Todd Gollihare, the bill’s Senate author, said the law will help improve public safety while maintaining consistent standards for defendants.
The Public Protection Act takes effect Jan. 1, 2027.
