A national policy research institute has released a study criticizing Oklahoma for "overcriminalizing" behavior and punishing people otherwise acting in good faith or doing their jobs.

The Manhattan Institute, a New York City think tank, released "Overcriminalizing the Sooner State: A Primer and Possible Reforms for Oklahoma" on Nov. 17.

Oklahoma is the fifth state the institute has studied.

The report points out the Oklahoma criminal code contains 1,232 sections sprawling over 629 pages. On average, the state has created 26 new crimes every year over the last six years, of which 91 percent fall outside the criminal code. The new crimes are placed under 21 other statutory titles, according to the report.