The Oklahoma Senate drew praise from Governor Mary Fallin this week, after passing several measures aimed at improving criminal justice efforts in the state.
As KFOR reports, the eight reforms passed this week were initially recommended by a task force convened by the Governor last year. In her State of the State address earlier this year, Fallin urged lawmakers to consider the proposals.
The measures include a proposal to develop individual plans to help inmates better integrate into society, more law enforcement training to allow officers to better handle domestic violence, and a training and certification process for professional victim advocates, as well as a system for better separating violent from nonviolent offenders, when it comes to sentencing.
The bills now head to the Oklahoma House of Representatives for consideration.
Oklahoma currently holds the second-highest imprisonment rate in the U.S.