The Oklahoma Survivors Coalition is pushing for changes to the state’s ‘failure to protect’ law, arguing that it unfairly punishes survivors of domestic violence. Tondalo Hall, a survivor whose sentence was commuted by Governor Kevin Stitt, shared her story of being convicted for letting her abusive boyfriend harm her children. Executive Director Colleen McCarty of Oklahoma Appleseed revealed that 55 individuals, mostly women and survivors of domestic violence, are currently imprisoned under this law. The proposed bill SB594 aims to amend the law by changing the language, reducing the maximum prison sentence to 7 years, and establishing defenses for failure to protect from child abuse. McCarty emphasized the importance of not harshly treating survivors of domestic violence in the criminal justice system, pointing out that in many cases, the actual abuser receives lighter sentences than those convicted of ‘failure to protect.’ Hall’s case highlights this inequality, as her boyfriend received a 10-year suspended sentence while she was sentenced to 30 years for a first offense. The coalition has until March 4 to advocate for the bill in the Senate Judiciary Committee. They stress the urgency of policy changes to ensure a fair and just system for survivors of domestic violence.
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