Bill No. 981 amends Section 1101 of Title 22 of the Oklahoma Statutes, which pertains to bail in criminal cases. The bill establishes that bail may be denied for certain offenses, including capital offenses, violent offenses, and offenses that could result in life imprisonment. Notably, it adds new criteria for denying bail, specifically for individuals charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicating substances if they have previously been convicted of two felonies for similar offenses. The bill also clarifies that defendants who are escaped prisoners from the Department of Corrections must be processed back into the facility before bail can be set on new charges.

Additionally, the bill introduces a rebuttable presumption against granting bail if the state can demonstrate, through clear and convincing evidence, that the individual poses a threat to community safety based on their arrest history. This includes cases where a person has been arrested for a violent offense and subsequently charged with another violent crime while out on bond. The effective date for this legislation is set for November 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 22-1101
Floor (Senate): 22-1101
Engrossed: 22-1101