Public Safety

The Oklahoma House of Representatives paused to remember the lives of two Oklahoma law enforcement officers who lost their lives in the line of duty over the past year.  The House held a moment of silence in remembrance of Corporal Robert William Sumner, who served with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, and Brian Keith Herbert, who served with the Osage Nation Police Department.  The House also adopted House Resolution 1029 , authored by Rep. Erick Harris, R-Edmond, recognizing the week of May 11 through May 17, 2025, as National Police Week in Oklahoma and designating May 15, 2025, as Peace Officers Memorial Day.  The resolution aligns with the national observance of National Police Week, first established by President John F. Kennedy in 1963, to honor law enforcement officers who have been killed or disabled in the line of duty.  "Every day, men and women in law enforcement put their lives on the line to protect our communities," Harris said. "During National Police Week, and especially on Peace Officers Memorial Day, we pause to reflect on their courage and recognize the debt of gratitude we owe to them and their families. We must never forget those who made the ultimate sacrifice to keep us safe."  The resolution affirms the House’s continued support for federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officers and their efforts to uphold justice and public safety with honor, integrity, and dedication.

Rep. Brian Hill, R-Mustang, has passed legislation out of committee to assist inmates leaving state custody with obtaining driver's licenses. House Bill 2364 requires the Oklahoma Department of Corrections (DOC) to assist inmates in obtaining a noncompliant REAL ID driver license. If an inmate does not or cannot obtain a driver's license, DOC is required to assist them in obtaining a REAL ID Noncompliant Identification Card. The change updates the Sarah Stitt Act, which Hill passed in 2021 to provide needed documentation and employment services to those leaving incarceration in an effort to reduce Oklahoma's recidivism rate and boost the state's economy. Under the law, DOC is also required to provide inmates with copies of their degrees and certificates, work record, birth certificate, as well as a Social Security card, a resume and documentation that the inmate completed a practice job interview. The act was named for Oklahoma's First Lady Sarah Stitt in recognition for her work to reduce recidivism. "When inmates leave prison fully prepared to enter the workforce and gain housing, our whole state benefits," Hill said. "The likelihood they'll return to prison is significantly lessened because they reenter society with the tools and support they need to make it happen. House Bill 2364 would help American citizens leave Oklahoma prisons with a state driver's license, which will help them access work, housing, grocery stores and other services, and gives them a state ID to be used in securing a job. This not only reduces recidivism but also strengthens Oklahoma’s restorative workforce by helping more people become productive, contributing members of society." HB2364 passed the House Public Safety Committee 5-0 on Wednesday and must be heard by the House Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight Committee before it may move to the House floor.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, today passed a bill in committee that would allow elected officials to enter a prison on an unannounced visit. House Bill 1240 passed the House Public Safety Committee, of which Humphrey is vice chair. it now is eligible to be heard in the Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight, of which he is a member. "We're not attempting to visit during a riot or anything like that," Humphrey explained. "But when we as elected officials hear something, this would allow us to go out and confirm that." Humphrey said oftentimes when elected officials visit a prison, the warden and other staff prepare for the visit ahead of time. "They have a runner out in front of you and make sure nothing is seen that they don't want seen," Humphrey said. "That's standard practice in prison. They wax the floor when they know you're coming. You get the golden tour. It's not the real tour. You don't get to see reality. This would just let us see prisons in their daily form and see what's really going on." An amendment was proposed on the bill that would move the Office of Inspector General from reporting directly to the director of the Department of Corrections (DOC) to instead reporting to the Board of Corrections. That way when complaints from constituents come to legislators, they will have better assurance of an unbiased investigation. Humphrey was in favor of the amendment but said because of its complexity the proper time to adopt it would be when the bill comes to the oversight committee. He asked committee members to move the bill forward as is with the promise he would amend it before the next committee hearing. The bill passed unanimously. Humphrey has said for years that he's received numerous reports from prisoners, their families and correctional officers themselves that state prisons are rife with murders, stabbings, rapes, hangings, overdoses, beatings and bloodshed. He said DOC is short-staffed, and he's been told by officers that those who say anything are fired. He said this bill is his best attempt to investigate the truth of these claims and to stop such actions.