Judges would be allowed to impose shorter sentences for some nonviolent crimes under a bill given final legislative approval Tuesday.

The Justice Safety Valve Act is a key part of the agenda to divert more offenders into alternative programs and away from long terms in the state’s overcrowded prisons. Gov. Mary Fallin has spoken in favor of sentencing reform this year and is expected to sign the bill into law.

Oklahoma has the top incarceration rate in the nation for women and one of the top for men. Contributing to those high rates are the more than 100 crimes that carry lengthy mandatory minimum prison sentences.

Rep. Pam Peterson’s House Bill 1518 would allow judges to depart from mandatory minimum terms that would pose an injustice to the defendant or be unnecessary for public protection.