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My latest, with @propublica + @NYTmag: An Oklahoma law was supposed to help reduce the sentences of domestic violence survivors who fought back -- women who are serving long sentences for killing their abusers. Why are nearly all of them still in prison?
propublica.org/article/oklah…
Oklahoma has one of the worst rates of domestic violence. It's easy to ask why someone didn't just leave or call police, but the reality is much more dangerous. This week I break it down with Tracey Lyall, CEO of Tulsa's Domestic Violence Intervention Services. #indepthwithdeon
DVIS CEO Tracey Lyall explains the importance of survivors of domestic abuse having a safety plan as they're exiting the relationship.
"It's really just thinking through all the different ways that you need to consider safety for you and your family."
#indepthwithdeon
A new Oklahoma law for imprisoned survivors who defended themselves against their abusers faced a setback this week after April Wilkens was denied resentencing. In a state where we pride ourselves on self-defense, why is it so difficult for women to access that same protection?
@dvis CEO Tracey Lyall speaking out against Judge David Guten's decision and the DA's prosecution of April Wilkens. Why DA Steve Kunzweiler spent over $11,000 and counting of state resources to keep DV victims in prison speaks volumes.
“We need Oklahomans to think about domestic and sexual violence as a public safety issue. And think about it when they’re at the polls voting for elected officials.” –Tracey Lyall, CEO of @dvis in Tulsa, OK talking to @BrennaRoseTV of Channel 8 about Judge David Guten
We need to ask why DA Steve Kunzweiler is spending thousands of taxpayer dollars on a “forensic psychologist” who has limited understanding of domestic violence. He is fighting these OSA resentencing hearings so hard when there are real threats to society he should be focused on.
This is not what his constituents want. We have an overincarceration crisis in our state and we need to consider proportionality in sentencing. It makes no sense to keep these survivors locked up at our expense.
If you're just now catching up, Judge David Guten denied April's request to be released under the law, even though she was one who was top of mind when the Oklahoma Survivors Act was written and we think the evidence speaks for itself.
“For so many years I was overwhelmed and caught up in the injustices in my own case,” she said. “When I was finally able to start advocating, I can’t tell you how freeing and how healing that was for me.”
The Oklahoma Survivors’ Act gives incarcerated survivors of domestic violence a new chance at freedom, reducing sentences for people whose convictions stemmed from their abuse.
NEW in @boltsmag from @LVikkiml: boltsmag.org/oklahoma-surviv…