Brad Henry to inherit special commutations docket

<br>OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Gov.-elect Brad Henry will have to decide whether to commute the prison sentences of 169 inmates. <br><br>Outgoing Gov. Frank Keating called for a special commutation docket to

Monday, January 13th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Gov.-elect Brad Henry will have to decide whether to commute the prison sentences of 169 inmates.

Outgoing Gov. Frank Keating called for a special commutation docket to review the cases of nearly 1,100 nonviolent offenders who could qualify for sentence reductions.

But Keating wasn't able to finish his review.

``There was just not enough time to act on them,'' Keating spokesman Dan Mahoney said.

Henry will be sworn in on Monday.

Although Keating offered to work on the cases Saturday, officials working with Henry told him not to bother.

``The impression should not be left that he (Keating) wasn't willing to act on those this week,'' said Tom Spencer, who will be Henry's general counsel. ``Governor Keating would have been happy to come in Saturday, but I told him that wouldn't be necessary and not to worry about it.''

Keating proposed the special commutation docket in November, and the Pardon and Parole Board approved the plan a month later.

The board looked at 195 cases and recommended commutations for 169 in its first wave of considerations.

Board members are considering the commutations as a way to help the financially strapped budget of the Corrections Department, which oversees 22,737 inmates presently, agency records show.

The governor has up to 30 days to act on the recommendations, Spencer said. Recommendations made last week leave Henry 25 days to act on them once he takes office.

Keating's departure will also mean the possible departure of three of the board's five members appointed by the governor.

Henry could reappoint Currie Ballard, Stephanie Chappelle and Marc Dreyer. But no decisions have been made on reappointments or new appointments, Spencer said.

``It will be made on an individual basis,'' he said. ``It won't be that they all have to stay or they all have to go.''