Now that State Question 780 and 781 have been in place for more than a year, the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) estimates the criminal justice reforms will avert nearly $138 million dollars in costs to the Department of Corrections over the next five years.
Oklahoma voters approved the measures two years ago. SQ 780 reduced simple drug possession to a felony while raising the felony property crime limit to $1,000. SQ 781 directs the savings to mental health and drug rehabilitation services around the state.
A big chunk of the averted costs is from Fiscal Year 18. OMES estimates a $63.5 million cost aversion because fewer people are going into the Department of Corrections prison system for drug offenses.
You can read the OMES report here.
