2023 Legislative Session Wrap Up from OK Appleseed:

Oklahoma Appleseed’s most active push this year was the Oklahoma Domestic Abuse Survivorship Act (HB 1639). This bill would have allowed survivors of domestic violence to introduce evidence of their abuse at the time of sentencing and receive a shorter sentence. It also would have applied retroactively so that survivors serving prison sentences could have those sentences reduced. The bill would have applied to an estimated 150 sentences in the state.

The bill enjoyed widespread success through the House, receiving a unanimous vote, however the retroactivity portion was removed prior to the House floor vote. Advocates with the OK Survivor Justice Coalition continued to push for retroactivity to be restored in conference. When the bill came out of conference on May 20th, it became clear that the authors of the bill did not restore retroactivity.

Advocates held a press conference on the steps of the Capitol to plead with legislators to restore retroactivity and allow those domestic violence victims in prison to be included in the law change. The bill was released from conference but never scheduled on the House floor to be heard with the new language. The bill did not advance to become law this year.

The OK Survivor Justice Coalition has vowed to continue working on the bill in the interim and bring it back next year in its full form.

Read the rest. 

Full recording for “Survivor Justice Press Conference on HB 1639” held on Tuesday, May 23, 2023

A message from April Wilkens sent on 9/19/22

Monday morning

Hi there. Late last week, I received the latest podcast transcripts you sent along with the interim study info and TPR article. Thanks!

Read the transcripts. I had no idea that the audiotape recording of Terry was actually ruled inadmissible at my trial after the prosecution filed a motion to keep it out, and this was done when the court reporter was not there so there. I’ve thought all this time that my attorney failed to discover it from Claire Eagan and that Tim Harris likely had it bc (I gave it to police) but just withheld that evidence. I’m flabbergasted!

I’m also a word nerd…

Manipulating the Truth

“Manipulate, in my opinion, means to behave or act in a certain way so as to influence the outcome to benefit or achieve your – your agenda.” (nothing about “manipulate” involving wily or fraudulent means or motives)

“[Truth] can change based on your perception.”

“And so that could be HER truth.” – IPV Expert at approx. 18:42 of Episode 11: The True Experts (emphasis added)

“We’re going to speak MY truth on the stand.” – IPV Expert at approx. 30:04 of Episode 11: The True Experts (emphasis added)

From Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary:
TRUTH
2a(1): the state of being the case: fact
2a(3): often cap: a transcendental fundamental or spiritual reality
2b: a judgment, proposition, or idea that is true OR ACCEPTED AS TRUE (emphasis added)

PERCEPTION
1a: result of perceiving: observation

PERCEIVE:
1a: obtain awareness or understanding of
1b: to regard as being such
2: to become aware of through the senses, especially: see, observe

MANIPULATE
1: To treat or operate with or as if with the hands or by mechanical means especially in a skillful manner
2a: To manage or utilize skillfully
2b: To control or play upon by artful, unfair, or insidious means especially to one’s own advantage

AGENDA
1: A list or outline of things to be considered or done
2: An underlying often ideological plan or program

Have a great day! 🙂