I Need Copy of The Daily Oklahoman News Article

[Pandonesia]

My son said that one of the guys got an article included with one of his letters, and it said something like: "If an inmate has never done prison time and not in for a violent offense, that when they go to A & R they will be returned to Oklahoma County Jail for a sentence modification and covert prison time to probation or parole and sent home". He is wanting me to find the article and find out if it was really in the paper. He said that it was proposedly printed around Wednesday, February 11 thru February 14.

If anyone out there takes "The Daily Oklahoman" and has a copy of that article, I will gladly pay you for the copy and postage to receive a copy of it. You may pm me and let me know.

Heartfelt Thanks !

[praise4himnok]

I found this on the Oklahoman website. I hope this is it

Committee suggests day reporting center
2004-02-20
By Bryan Dean
The Oklahoman


Oklahoma County officials said Thursday they hope to create a day reporting center that would keep nonviolent offenders out of jail.
The idea comes from a committee looking at jail population issues at the request of Sheriff John Whetsel.

Maj. Clifford Uranga, jail administrator, said the goal is to help offenders who are not a risk to society maintain employment. The offenders are monitored but do not stay locked up at the jail at county expense.

"You reduce the population and you don't bring people to jail that don't need to be there," Uranga said.

The committee is considering which offenders would be eligible. Uranga said the focus is primarily on minor offenders and those with mental illness who are not a threat as long as they take medication.

Uranga said the program has worked well in other cities, but he could not give an estimate of how much money could be saved.

"It could be enormous," Uranga said. "You don't feed them. You don't have to get them any medication because they maintain it themselves."

The panel started looking at the issue after the National Institute of Corrections visited the jail and provided funding to examine population problems.

District 1 County Commissioner Jim Roth said the committee came to a consensus that the day reporting center is a good idea.

"This is a project that we've been working on collectively for about nine months," Roth said. "We're at a point where the synergy really says a day reporting center makes sense."

Oklahoma County District Judge Jerry Bass and presiding Judge Noma Gurich participated on the committee, and Roth said they agreed that judges would like having the choice to send nonviolent offenders to a day reporting center instead of jail.

The committee would like to get the day reporting center under way by July 1, Roth said. The major hurdle to the program would be funding.

Roth and Uranga said they don't know how much it would cost to begin the program.

[TxRenee]

Sounds like its just trying to get off the ground! How nice this would be IF it happens.

[Pandonesia]

OMG, this is wonderful. Thank you so very much and God Bless you for your efforts. I will print and send this to my son and let you know what he says. Thanks again!

[praise4himnok]

You are very welcome