Report on Modernizing Oklahoma’s Criminal Justice System in Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Pursuing SDG 16 through Systemic Reform

An interim study by state senators has been conducted to assess the modernization of Oklahoma’s criminal justice system. The primary objectives are to identify operational efficiencies and reduce the financial burden on taxpayers, directly aligning with the principles of Sustainable Development Goal 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), which calls for effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.

Testimony from legal experts and policy advocates before the Senate Public Safety Committee identified significant financial and systemic challenges. The findings underscore the urgent need for reforms that not only create economic savings but also promote a more just, equitable, and sustainable legal framework.

Analysis of Systemic Challenges and SDG Implications

Fiscal Burdens and Institutional Accountability

The financial commitment to the state’s corrections system is substantial. The Oklahoma Department of Corrections (ODOC) was appropriated $547.36 million for FY 2026, with an initial request of $551.36 million for FY 2027. These figures highlight the importance of ensuring public funds are utilized efficiently, a core tenet of building strong institutions under SDG 16.

The Cost of Judicial Errors and Access to Justice

Judicial and prosecutorial errors present a profound challenge to the state’s commitment to SDG 16, which emphasizes equal access to justice for all. It was reported that 95% of all criminal convictions in Oklahoma are the result of plea agreements, limiting judicial oversight. The consequences of errors within this system are severe and costly.

• Since 1990, there have been 46 known exonerations for wrongful convictions in Oklahoma.
• The process to correct these errors is lengthy, averaging ten years per case.
• High-profile cases, such as that of Richard Glossip, exemplify how prosecutorial mistakes lead to protracted and expensive litigation, undermining institutional integrity and public trust.

These failures represent a significant deviation from the principles of justice and contribute to inequality, a concern addressed by SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

Procedural Barriers and Institutional Effectiveness

System-wide inefficiencies, such as missed court appearances, place a considerable strain on judicial resources. An estimated one in three court dates is missed nationwide, with each occurrence costing approximately $1,500 in administrative and operational expenses. This systemic issue highlights a critical opportunity for improvement in institutional effectiveness, directly supporting the objectives of SDG 16.

Socioeconomic Consequences of Pretrial Detention

The practice of pretrial detention has significant and cascading negative impacts that conflict with multiple Sustainable Development Goals. According to Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform, holding a defendant for more than three days initiates a series of adverse socioeconomic effects.

• SDG 1 (No Poverty): Detained individuals experience a loss of income, which harms their families and can push them into poverty.
• SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): Incarceration creates barriers to stable employment and economic self-sufficiency.
• SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): The financial and social costs of detention disproportionately affect low-income individuals and their children, increasing the risk of future incarceration and perpetuating a cycle of inequality.

Strategic Recommendations for a Sustainable and Just System

Proposed Reforms to Advance the Sustainable Development Goals

To address these challenges and align the criminal justice system more closely with the SDGs, several key reforms have been proposed:

1. Reduce Pretrial Detention Periods: Limiting the length of pretrial detention can mitigate immediate financial hardship on families, supporting SDG 1 and SDG 10, while making the justice system more efficient and humane (SDG 16).
2. Establish Conviction Integrity Units: Creating units to review high-profile and potentially flawed cases would enhance institutional accountability and ensure justice is served, directly advancing the mission of SDG 16.
3. Simplify Court Paperwork: Streamlining administrative processes can reduce the number of missed court appearances, thereby increasing institutional efficiency and saving public funds as envisioned in SDG 16.
4. Re-examine Parole Policies: Reforming policies concerning the aging prison population and medical parole for nonviolent offenders addresses humanitarian concerns and promotes a more equitable system, consistent with SDG 10 and SDG 16.

Further recommendations include implementing mandatory reporting and database tracking for judicial errors to increase transparency and accountability. The consensus among stakeholders is that meaningful reforms can achieve tens of millions of dollars in taxpayer savings without compromising public safety, thereby creating a more effective, just, and sustainable criminal justice system for all Oklahomans.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  This is the most prominent SDG addressed in the article. The entire text focuses on modernizing the state’s criminal justice system, identifying inefficiencies, addressing prosecutorial mistakes, and ensuring the system is effective, accountable, and just. The discussion about wrongful convictions, the cost of the corrections system, and proposals for reform like establishing conviction integrity units directly relate to building strong and fair institutions.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  The article touches upon the unequal impact of the criminal justice system. It highlights how pretrial detention disproportionately harms individuals by lowering their income and negatively affecting their children, increasing their risk for future incarceration. This creates a cycle of disadvantage and inequality that reforms aim to address, thereby ensuring more equal outcomes and opportunities.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  • Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.

    This target is relevant because the article discusses significant failures in upholding the rule of law, such as the “46 people in Oklahoma that have been exonerated or wrongfully convicted.” The mention of prosecutorial errors in the Richard Glossip case and the proposal to establish “conviction integrity units” are direct efforts to ensure justice is served correctly and is accessible to those wrongfully accused.

  • Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.

    The article’s core theme is the effort to “modernize the state’s criminal justice system by identifying efficiencies and alleviating the financial burden.” This aligns with developing effective institutions. The proposed solutions, such as “mandatory reporting when there’s a mistake or error made” and creating a “database as well, tracking that conduct,” are measures to increase accountability and transparency within the justice system.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  • Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome…

    This target is addressed through the discussion of pretrial costs. The article states that holding a defendant for more than three days lowers their income and “harms their children, which in turn increases their risk for future incarceration.” This describes an inequality of outcome based on one’s interaction with the justice system. The proposal to reduce “the length of pre-trial detention periods” is a direct action aimed at mitigating these unequal consequences.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicators for Target 16.3 (Access to Justice)

  • Number of wrongfully convicted individuals exonerated:

    The article explicitly states, “Since 1990, there have been 46 people in Oklahoma that have been exonerated or wrongfully convicted.” This number serves as a direct indicator of failures in the justice system. A reduction in this number over time would indicate progress.

  • Average time to correct wrongful convictions:

    The article mentions that “the average is ten years” to correct these cases. This duration is an indicator of the system’s efficiency in rectifying its own errors. Reducing this average time would be a measure of improvement.

• Indicators for Target 16.6 (Effective Institutions)

  • Proportion of missed court appearances:

    The article notes that “roughly one in three court appearances is missed nationwide.” This statistic can be used as an indicator of systemic inefficiency. Tracking this proportion at the state level and seeing a decrease after implementing solutions like “simplifying court paperwork” would measure progress.

  • Financial cost of the corrections system:

    The article provides budget figures (“$547.36 million for FY 2026”). The overall goal is to “alleviate the financial burden on taxpayers” and “save taxpayers millions.” Therefore, the total expenditure on the criminal justice and corrections system can serve as an indicator of efficiency.

• Indicators for Target 10.3 (Reduced Inequalities)

  • Average length of pre-trial detention:

    The article highlights the negative consequences when a defendant is “held for more than three days.” The proposal to reduce the length of these periods implies that the duration of pre-trial detention is a key metric. Measuring and reducing the average detention time would be an indicator of progress in mitigating the downstream costs and inequalities affecting families.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: news9.com