Oklahoma — Civil Society Issues — Galsworthy Criminal Justice Reform Program

Civil Society Issues

Many issues that are primary drivers of mass incarceration cannot be remedied through government solutions alone. Issues such as broken families and mental health, both forever altered by over criminalization, cannot be simply be repaired through legislation. Civil Society has the unique capability to address certain social issues that government cannot, or to address them more effectively than government can. This section also addresses issues in which over-policing attempts to fix issues that should be handled through the community.

This Is What Wrongful Conviction Does to a Family

“This is not a true crime whodunit. This is the story of what happens to the family of a murder victim when they find out years later that everything the criminal justice system had led them to believe was a lie. This is a story of wrongful conviction told from the perspective of Debbie’s family, how they survived one earthquake and then another, and came to the other side. It is also about Debbie’s little cousin Christy: her reckoning, her rage, her forgiveness, and her transformation into a crusader for a different vision of justice—a vision that put her at odds with her tight-knit, rock-ribbed red-state community.“

Politico

November 11, 2018

False ConvictionsPhillip ReevesNovember 11, 2018Politico, OklahomaComment

“You Miss So Much When You’re Gone”

“While most women admitted to jails are accused of minor crimes, the consequences of pretrial incarceration can be devastating. This report finds that jailed mothers often feel an added, and unique, pressure to plead guilty so that they can return home to parent their children and resume their lives. These mothers face difficulties keeping in touch with their children due to restrictive jail visitation policies and costly telephone and video calls.“

Human Rights Watch

September 26, 2018

Parental IncarcerationPhillip ReevesSeptember 26, 2018Human Rights Watch, OklahomaComment

Civil Society Issues

Galsworthy CJR Program

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