Articles written by Keaton Ross


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  • Oklahoma bets on body-worn cameras to improve prison conditions

    Keaton Ross, Oklahoma Watch|Oct 4, 2024

    Cynthia Butler’s anger evolved into activism after Amanda Lane died at the Mabel Bassett Correctional Center in February 2022. The state medical examiner concluded that Lane, a 38-year-old prisoner serving a life sentence for first-degree murder, used a drawstring from a pair of shorts to hang herself in the early morning hours of Feb. 28, 2022. But Butler, who served 13 years at Mabel Bassett before a federal judge overturned her conviction in 2000, said she started receiving reports from women at the prison that Lane was assaulted with no s...

  • Parole board approves revised commutation eligibility requirements

    Keaton Ross, Oklahoma Watch|Feb 9, 2024

    The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted unanimously on Monday to implement a waiting period for state prisoners to argue their sentence is unjust or excessive. The administrative rules change, which must receive final approval from the Legislature to take effect, requires prisoners to serve the lesser of five years in prison or one-third of their sentence to become eligible for commutation. Current guidelines allow nearly all state prisoners to seek commutation, but they must wait at least three years to reapply if the board rejects their...

  • Oklahoma parole rate declines

    Keaton Ross, Oklahoma Watch|Jan 5, 2024

    Trisha Fox was optimistic when her husband, Richard Fox, appeared on the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board docket in early September. The 63-year-old prisoner, incarcerated since 1980 on a first-degree murder conviction in Caddo County, had not received a misconduct violation since 1995. Letters of support poured in from family, friends and prison ministry volunteers assuring board members he would have stable housing and employment if granted parole. “He never meant to kill anybody, but he also never denied doing it,” Trisha Fox said, add...

  • Outside groups spent $2.3 million on Oklahoma elections in 2023

    Keaton Ross, Oklahoma Watch|Dec 24, 2023

    Politically involved nonprofits and committees without contribution limits spent $2.3 million to influence Oklahoma voters in 2023, rivaling the $2.95 million candidates put toward campaign expenses. State ethics rules cap candidate committee contributions at $3,300 per election. In contrast, outside groups are allowed to accept and spend unlimited amounts to advocate for or against a candidate or issue so long as they don’t coordinate with candidates. State and federal law does not require politically involved nonprofits to disclose their d...

  • Parole board seeks stiffer commutation requirements

    Keaton Ross, Oklahoma Watch|Dec 22, 2023

    COMANCHE — Three and a half months removed from prison, Kara Chapman is striving to rebuild her life. The 38-year-old mother works most days waiting tables at a catfish restaurant in Comanche. On days off, she volunteers with a local food pantry or drives 30 minutes north to visit her four children in Marlow. She hopes to progress through a transitional program and move into a duplex where she can have overnight visits with her kids. “When I found out I’m going to prison and I’m going for a cool minute, I had to make a decision on if I believe...

  • Private-public court debt collection scheme continues to profit

    Keaton Ross and Jazz Wolfe, Oklahoma Watch|Nov 19, 2023

    When Aberdeen Enterprizes II threatened to have her arrested over $1,200 in outstanding court fines and fees, Kendy Killman became a prisoner in her own home. The mother of eight feared being arrested unexpectedly, so she avoided unnecessary trips to the grocery store or her children’s school. She said the third-party debt collector rejected her proposition to set up a monthly payment plan, wanting only a lump sum or nothing at all. “They would call once a week to threaten me, saying you’re going to jail and they’re going to come to your ho...

  • Inmate deaths raise questions about temperatures in Oklahoma prisons

    Keaton Ross, Oklahoma Watch|Oct 6, 2023

    During the early morning count on Saturday, Aug. 26, state corrections officers found Vincent Willis dead in his cell at the Dick Conner Correctional Center in Hominy. The 59-year-old prisoner died overnight in his sleep, according to an offender death report obtained through the Oklahoma Open Records Act. The report lists natural causes as the suspected cause of death, which medical personnel generally cite when someone dies from a chronic health condition or illness. While Willis' death was...

  • Oklahoma lawmakers weigh restrictions on ranked-choice voting

    Keaton Ross, Oklahoma Watch|Sep 17, 2023

    From Alaska to New York City, ranked-choice voting has gained traction in a handful of states and dozens of municipalities. A coalition of voter advocacy groups and some elected officials, including Rep. Mickey Dollens, D-Oklahoma City, and Stillwater mayor Will Joyce say the preference-based voting system helps reduce negative campaigning and gives a greater voice to third-party and independent voters. But several Republican lawmakers, concerned about a potential switchover being costly and confusing to voters, remain skeptical. Five...

  • Oklahoma inches closer to eliminating private prisons

    Keaton Ross, Oklahoma Watch|Sep 3, 2023

    Change is coming to a southeast Oklahoma private prison plagued with violence and staffing shortages, but advocates for corrections staff and prisoners say further efforts are needed to improve conditions. The Oklahoma Department of Corrections will take control of the Davis Correctional Facility, a medium-to-maximum security prison in Holdenville, on Oct. 1. CoreCivic, a Tennessee-based private corrections company, has owned and operated the prison since it opened in 1996. The state pays CoreCivic $55 per day for medium-security prisoners and...

  • Governor, legislative leaders strike 'monumental' public education funding deal

    Paul Monies and Keaton Ross|May 21, 2023

    After months of wrangling and the week-long efforts of mediation by a retired Oklahoma Supreme Court justice, the state’s GOP leaders announced what they called a “monumental” education funding package on Monday. The $785 million in additional spending includes money for teacher pay raises and classroom funding. It is tied to a new refundable tax credit to reimburse parents who pay for private school. The plan also provides funding for six weeks of paid maternity leave for certified teaching professionals, more funding for a literacy progr... Full story

  • Oklahoma news deserts: Data shows voting sagged in 'orphan counties'

    Keaton Ross, Oklahoma Watch|Jan 8, 2023

    Tucked away in the southeast corner of the state, McCurtain County residents receive television news from Shreveport, Louisiana. Shreveport is a slightly closer drive than Oklahoma City or Tulsa, and its stations rarely delve into Oklahoma politics. With statewide newspaper circulation a thing of the past, state Rep. Eddy Dempsey said his constituents mostly rely on spotty broadband service to keep up with developments at the state Capitol. “The sad part is, if I lived another mile west I’d be able to get them [Oklahoma news channels],” said...

  • Looking ahead to the 2023 legislative session

    Keaton Ross, Oklahoma Watch|Jan 8, 2023

    With holiday festivities all but wrapped up, it's time to shift focus toward what lies ahead in 2023. Bill filing is still underway, with the legislature facing a Jan. 19 deadline to introduce bills and joint resolutions. But through public statements and initial filings, lawmakers have started to signal what their priorities will be in the coming months. Here's a preview of the kinds of proposals lawmakers will likely consider this session: Tax Cuts a Republican Priority Reducing taxes appears... Full story

  • How a proposed felony classification system would affect justice in Oklahoma

    Keaton Ross, Oklahoma Watch|Apr 10, 2022

    A 1,000-page proposal to overhaul Oklahoma’s criminal code and establish a felony classification system is progressing in the legislature. Senate Bill 1646 by Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa, cleared the upper chamber by a 35-12 vote in late March. It’s eligible to be considered in the House, where Rep. Mike Osburn, R-Edmond, is carrying the bill. Justice reform advocates say the classification effort presents an opportunity to reduce sentencing ranges for several offenses and divert more people from incarceration. Opponents argue the proposal is over...

  • Many Oklahoma jails struggle to meet health and safety standards

    Keaton Ross, Oklahoma Watch|Apr 3, 2022

    As Covid-19 outbreaks emerged throughout Oklahoma’s prison system in September 2020, the Hughes County Jail opted not to give masks to detainees. Inside the Bryan County Jail, inspected on March 10, 2020, a state health department employee found roaches near a floor drain in the kitchen and gnats in living and common areas. At the Haskell County Jail in eastern Oklahoma, an inspector discovered buckets of stagnant water under a kitchen sink and three non-functioning cell toilets. More than four dozen Oklahoma jails were cited for health and saf...

  • Many Oklahoma jails struggle to meet health and safety standards

    Keaton Ross, Oklahoma Watch|Apr 1, 2022

    As Covid-19 outbreaks emerged throughout Oklahoma’s prison system in September 2020, the Hughes County Jail opted not to give masks to detainees. Inside the Bryan County Jail, inspected on March 10, 2020, a state health department employee found roaches near a floor drain in the kitchen and gnats in living and common areas. At the Haskell County Jail in eastern Oklahoma, an inspector discovered buckets of stagnant water under a kitchen sink and three non-functioning cell toilets. More than four dozen Oklahoma jails were cited for health and saf...

  • Expungement process in Oklahoma is long and expensive; legislature could change that.

    Keaton Ross, Oklahoma Watch|Mar 13, 2022

    Hundreds of people lined up outside the Urban League of Greater Oklahoma City last August in 90-degree heat, hoping for a fresh start. The advocacy organization was hosting an expungement fair aimed at providing resources and information to people with nonviolent felony and misdemeanor convictions. Expungement can help people with arrests or aging convictions pass background checks and secure stable housing and employment. Most don't take advantage of the relief it offers. The Oklahoma Policy... Full story

  • A lawsuit challenging Oklahoma's lethal injection protocol is going to trial. Here's what's at stake

    Keaton Ross, Oklahoma Watch|Feb 20, 2022

    Overview: A federal judge will decide if Oklahoma’s lethal injection protocol is likely to cause unconstitutional pain and suffering. The outcome of an upcoming federal trial will have long-lasting implications for the death penalty in Oklahoma. A nearly eight-year-old lawsuit, filed by a group of Oklahoma death row prisoners who claim the state’s lethal injection protocol causes unconstitutional pain and suffering, will proceed to trial on Feb. 28 at the federal courthouse in Oklahoma City. U.S. District Judge Stephen Friot will preside ove...

  • Ten criminal justice bills worth tracking this legislative session

    Keaton Ross, Oklahoma Watch|Jan 30, 2022

    Bills aimed at easing the reentry process for Oklahomans incarcerated received strong bipartisan support in 2021. The Senate and House unanimously voted to enact the Sarah Stitt Act, which directs the Department of Corrections to ensure prisoners obtain state-issued identification cards prior to their release. Both chambers passed House Bill 1795, which modifies when a driver’s license can be revoked due to failure to pay court fines and fees. Lawmakers will look to expand on those reforms when the 2022 legislative session convenes on Feb. 7...

  • While active cases remain low, Omicron threat looms in Oklahoma prisons

    Keaton Ross, Oklahoma Watch|Jan 16, 2022

    The highly contagious Omicron variant has arrived in Oklahoma, causing Covid-19 case numbers to surge and renewing concerns that hospitals will become overwhelmed. State prisons, where many of the incarcerated live in dormitory-style housing units, were hit especially hard with infections and deaths during previous waves of the virus. But unlike many other states, Oklahoma’s correctional facilities have largely been spared from Covid-19 in recent weeks. The Oklahoma Department of Corrections reported 17 active cases on Jan. 11, with none of t...

  • Five criminal justice issues to watch in 2022

    Keaton Ross, Oklahoma Watch|Dec 31, 2021

    Overview: State officials resumed executions after a six-year moratorium and mounting issues at the Oklahoma County Jail drew national attention. Inside state prisons, corrections officials distributed vaccines to the incarcerated and ended prolonged restrictions on prisoner movement and family visitation. Looking forward to 2022, court rulings and state legislative votes will have a lasting impact on the future of criminal justice in Oklahoma. There was no shortage of criminal justice news to cover in Oklahoma in 2021. State officials resumed... Full story

  • Corrections Department seeks to hire teenagers as detention officers

    Keaton Ross, Oklahoma Watch|Dec 12, 2021

    Kenneth Manning applied to work as a state correctional officer on his 20th birthday. Manning was accepted into the Oklahoma Department of Corrections training academy in March 2018. He started pulling 12-hour shifts at the Lexington Assessment and Reception Center six weeks later. Some prisoners try to take advantage of officers they perceive as weak, Manning said, particularly those who look young. He said he tried to stand his ground while maintaining a professional demeanor. "A lot of it... Full story

  • They don't vote, but they do count: How the incarcerated skew political representation in Oklahoma

    Keaton Ross, Oklahoma Watch|Nov 14, 2021

    HOLDENVILLE - Surrounded by soft rolling hills and small cattle herds, more than 1,300 men live together on the outskirts of this southeastern Oklahoma community. You won't find them shopping for groceries at Walmart or eating a half-pound burger and fries at Pat's Cafe on Oak Street. The quality of local roads and public schools don't concern them. They don't vote, but they do count towards the area's political representation in Oklahoma City. Nearly a quarter of Holdenville's population is...

  • Federal appeals court temporarily blocks state from carrying out two executions. What's next?

    Keaton Ross, Oklahoma Watch|Oct 29, 2021

    The future of the death penalty in Oklahoma is once again uncertain following a federal appeals court ruling. The U.S. Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday agreed to temporarily stay the executions of death row prisoners John Grant and Julius Jones. The court did not grant or deny execution stays for Wade Lay, Donald Grant and Gilbert Postelle, who have execution dates set for January and February. John Grant, who murdered a prison kitchen supervisor in 1998, was scheduled to be put to death on Thursday afternoon. Jones, who was...

  • Corrections Department plans sign-on bonuses, temporary pay raises as prison staffing problems persist

    Keaton Ross, Oklahoma Watch|Oct 3, 2021

    The Oklahoma Department of Corrections plans to provide a $2,500 sign-on bonus to newly hired prison officers and temporarily boost pay for employees working in especially understaffed facilities. The agency’s staffing levels have dropped significantly over the past year, resulting in officers working excessive overtime and decreased employee morale, corrections director Scott Crow told the state Board of Corrections on Wednesday afternoon. Oklahoma had 387 fully-funded, vacant correctional officer positions in June, according to budget d...

  • Rights of the condemned: What Oklahoma death row prisoners can and can't do in their final hours

    Keaton Ross, Oklahoma Watch|Sep 26, 2021

    As Oklahoma prepares to carry out seven executions over a five-month stretch, the U.S. Supreme Court will soon hear oral arguments in a case that could expand civil rights for the condemned. Convicted of murdering a convenience store worker and sentenced to death in 2008, Texas prisoner John Henry Ramirez was scheduled to be executed on Sept. 8. In the weeks leading up to the execution, Ramirez requested that his pastor be allowed to lay hands on him during the administration of lethal...

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