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STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2nd Session of the 60th Legislature (2026)
SENATE BILL 1244 By: Rader
AS INTRODUCED
An Act relating to pardons and paroles; amending 57
O.S. 2021, Section 332.21, which relates to parole of
certain inmates; modifying criteria for certain
parole; modifying criteria for certain risk-
assessment instrument; requiring the Pardon and
Parole Board to place certain inmates on parole
docket; requiring granting of certain parole;
updating statutory language and reference; and
providing an effective date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 57 O.S. 2021, Section 332.21, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 332.21. A. The Pardon and Parole Board is empowered to
parole a prisoner an inmate who:
1. Is sixty (60) years of age or older;
2. Has served, in actual custody, the shorter of ten (10) years
of the term or terms of imprisonment, or one-third (1/3) of the
total term or terms of imprisonment; and
3. Poses minimal public Does not pose substantial safety risks
warranting continued imprisonment;.
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4. Is not imprisoned for a crime enumerated in Section 13.1 of
Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes or Section 571 of Title 57 of the
Oklahoma Statutes; and
5. Has not been convicted of a crime that would require the
person to be subject to the registration requirements of the Sex
Offenders Registration Act.
B. The authority to grant parole under Section 332.2 of Title
57 of the Oklahoma Statutes this title shall rest with the Pardon
and Parole Board.
C. The Pardon and Parole Board shall use an evidence-based
risk-assessment instrument to assess the public safety risk posed by
aging prisoners inmates upon release. Such instrument shall include
the health status of the inmates.
D. Unless eligible for release at an earlier date, an aging
prisoner inmate who has been committed to the Department of
Corrections for a term or terms of imprisonment shall have the
ability to request a parole hearing before the Pardon and Parole
Board if the prisoner inmate has served, in actual custody, the
shorter of:
1. Ten (10) years of the term or terms of actual imprisonment;
or
2. One-third (1/3) of the total term or terms of imprisonment.
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E. Once a prisoner an inmate requests a parole hearing under
subsection A of this section, the Pardon and Parole Board may shall
place the prisoner inmate on the next available docket.
F. The Pardon and Parole Board may shall grant parole to a
prisoner an inmate if the Board finds by a preponderance of the
evidence that the prisoner inmate, if released, can live and remain
at liberty without posing a substantial risk to public safety.
G. The Pardon and Parole Board may shall use the selected
evidence-based risk-assessment instrument to make the determination
provided for in subsection F of this section.
H. The Pardon and Parole Board may provide the prisoner inmate
the opportunity to speak on his or her own behalf and the option of
having counsel present at the parole hearing.
I. For purposes of this section:
1. “Aging prisoner” “Aging inmate” means any person imprisoned
by the Department of Corrections who is sixty (60) years of age or
older; and
2. “Evidence-based” means programs or practices that have been
scientifically tested in controlled studies and proven to be
effective.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2026.
60-2-2557 CN 12/15/2025 2:14:21 PM