Oklahoma Lowest In Nation For Prisoner Paroles

Thursday, December 6th 2007, 7:10 am

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla. (AP) - A report from the federal Justice Department shows Oklahoma has the fewest paroles of prison inmates in the nation. The report comes while state lawmakers consider a plan to take the governor out of the parole process.

Oklahoma is the only state that requires the governor to sign off on all paroles and some say that makes the parole process political.

In October 2005 Governor Henry approved 210 paroles but in October 2006 - an election year - he approved only five. Governor's spokesman Paul Sund says Henry doesn't have a position on the plan to remove him from the parole process.

The change would require a constitutional amendment approved by voters statewide.