Governor Brad Henry Proposes "Smart" Public Safety Plan

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Governor Brad Henry wants to take a hard look at the corrections crisis in Oklahoma by preserving prison space for the most violent criminals.<br/><br/>Henry wants to set aside an

Wednesday, January 31st 2007, 8:44 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Governor Brad Henry wants to take a hard look at the corrections crisis in Oklahoma by preserving prison space for the most violent criminals.

Henry wants to set aside an extra $20 million to finance his "Smart on Crime" program, which stresses treatment alternatives to low-level, nonviolent offenders.

The funding would go to drug courts, mental health courts, juvenile courts, drug and alcohol treatment, work programs and restitution.

He says Oklahoma can be tough on crime by locking up dangerous offenders, but also be smart by making non-violent drug and alcohol offenders pay for their own treatment.

He says drug courts have proven effective and it makes sense to apply the same model to other categories of low-level offenders, whether they are juveniles or the mentally ill.

Republican state Senate leader Glenn Coffee says he's skeptical of the proposal and that making offenders serve more prison time makes Oklahoma safer.