Over the past year, the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board has approved commutation for 2,600 Oklahoma inmates resulting in a significant decline in the number of incarcerated Oklahomans. This has helped Oklahoma shed its title as the top incarceration state in the nation, but prisons remain overcrowded and Oklahoma is still near the top of national rankings.

On today’s episode we talk with Pardon and Parole Board member Adam Luck about the commutation process, the rise in commuted sentences and what’s next in Oklahoma’s continued effort to decrease its prison population.

We also speak with Allison Herrera about her recent stories covering Oklahoma’s child neglect laws which have been criticized for unfair sentencing, especially surrounding women.

This is Listen Frontier, a podcast exploring the investigative journalism of the Frontier and featuring conversations with those on the frontlines of Oklahoma’s most important stories. Listen to us Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.

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