Gov. Fallin made the right and moral decision in commuting the sentences of 21 low-level offenders, who would be serving little to no prison time if sentenced today.

The effort was led by Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform, with assistance from students at the University of Tulsa College of Law, the Tulsa County Public Defenders Office and other groups.

When voters approved State Question 780 two years ago, it reclassified certain nonviolent drug and property crimes to lesser misdemeanors and sentences. That was not retroactive.

Oklahoma’s overcrowded prisons do not need to be filled with people who don’t need to be there.

The offenders who were released had been incarcerated for 10 or more years for crimes that, if prosecuted today, would come with significantly shorter sentences.

In total, the offenders were sentenced to 349 years. The commutations took 306 years off that time.

Fallin could not hide how moved she was by the impact of the commutations as she fought back tears during the commutation signing ceremony.

“As we prepare for the Christmas holiday season, let’s not forget there is a God of second chances,” she said.