Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform, which organized the petition effort to get SQ 780 on the ballot for voters, is developing a proposal for the upcoming legislative session to make SQ 780 retroactive.

“That seems like a fair and relatively easy change to make, given how strongly State Question 780 was supported by voters in 2016,” Gentzler said. The ballot measure passed with 58 percent of the vote.

Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler said he tends not to favor a retroactive application of SQ 780. He came out against SQ 780 when it was a ballot measure.

If such a law were to pass, Kunzweiler said he hopes it wouldn’t be a blanket retroactive approach. He said a review process would allow information to be presented to indicate a public-safety component went into a conviction.

For example, Kunzweiler said if prosecutors were trying to go after a gang member involved in drive-by shootings but witnesses were afraid to testify, gangs often are involved in drugs, so drug possession might have been the best way to get that public safety threat off the street, he said.

“I have often said that Al Capone did not go to prison for masterminding a criminal enterprise,” Kunzweiler said. “He went to prison for failure to pay taxes. There are individuals who have been prosecuted for drug crimes, but the public safety guardians in the law enforcement community know these individuals have much more involvement with violent activities.”

Corey Jones 918-581-8359 corey.jones@tulsaworld.com Twitter: @JonesingToWrite

Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.