Oklahoma Senate Bill SB887

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/3/25
• Refer: 2/4/25
• Failed: 2/19/25

Caption

Inmates; creating the Secure Pre-Integration Pilot Program. Effective date.

Summary

SB887 would create a five-year "Secure Pre-Integration Pilot Program" within the Oklahoma Department of Corrections for offenders incarcerated for non-violent offenses. The stated goal is to provide reintegration assistance before release in order to reduce prison populations and lower state correctional costs. The program would allow an inmate to be released to the custody of a family member or a community entity, including a church or nonprofit organization, which would monitor the person and provide regular reports to the Department of Corrections. The bill directs the Department of Corrections to administer the program and adopt rules for its operation. It also expressly states that participation does not reduce sentence time and is not a form of probation or parole; instead, participants remain in the custody of the designated responsible party as determined by the department. Inmates transferred from another state under the Interstate Corrections Compact or a similar agreement would also be eligible. The bill creates a revolving fund to support the program, allows the department to spend appropriated, donated, or grant funds for administration, and permits up to 5% of available funds to be used for administrative costs.

Impact

If enacted, SB887 would add a new section to Title 57 of the Oklahoma Statutes establishing a DOC-run pilot program and a dedicated revolving fund for its financing. It would expand the department’s authority to place certain non-violent inmates in supervised pre-release arrangements with families or community organizations, while preserving the original sentence and avoiding classification as probation or parole. The bill would also authorize rulemaking, fund expenditures, and limited administrative cost recovery, affecting the Department of Corrections, participating inmates, and the outside entities that assume monitoring responsibility.

Sentiment

The bill appears to have been framed as a criminal justice and corrections-management measure focused on rehabilitation, reintegration, and reducing incarceration costs. However, the committee vote indicates limited support: the Senate Public Safety Committee voted 3-4 on a DO PASS AMENDED motion, and the bill ultimately failed in committee. With no transcript available, the available record suggests the proposal drew some support but not enough to advance, reflecting a divided response rather than broad consensus.

Contention

The main points of contention likely centered on whether the program would appropriately balance public safety with reintegration goals, and whether releasing inmates to family or community supervision could be administered effectively. Another likely issue was the bill’s distinction from probation or parole, since it creates a custody arrangement outside traditional release mechanisms while still placing responsibility on non-state actors. The limited committee support and failure in Public Safety suggest concerns may have involved supervision, accountability, eligibility for non-violent offenders, and the practical risks of using outside entities such as churches or nonprofits to monitor participants.