Oklahoma § 19-533 - Debt to society work release or community service program

§ 19-533. Debt to society work release or community service program

A. Each county is hereby authorized to establish and maintain

for the benefit of nonviolent misdemeanor offenders a "debt to

society" work release or community service program. When a county

establishes such program, the following requirements shall apply:

1. In conjunction with the office of the district attorney, the

county sheriff shall establish guidelines for the monitoring and

enforcement of persons the program would be available to;

2. The program guidelines shall provide the details for a work

release program or a community service program;

3. The program guidelines shall be approved by the district

judge prior to implementation;

4. Only defendants who enter a plea or are convicted of a

nonviolent misdemeanor offense may be eligible for the program;

5. An eight-hour work day shall translate into one (1) full day

of imprisonment in a county jail. A four-hour work day shall

translate into one-half (1/2) day of imprisonment in a county jail;

and

6. Counties may use the program in lieu of incarceration and/or

housing a defendant.

B. 1. The sentence of the person may be reduced by earned

early release time in accordance with procedures developed and

promulgated by the county sheriff and approved by the district

attorney.

2. The earned early release time shall be for good behavior and

good performance in the work release or community service program as

determined by the county sheriff.

3. The county sheriff shall not credit the person with earned

early release time in advance of the person actually earning the

credits.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 19. Counties and County Officers

4. Under no circumstances shall the aggregate sum of earned

early release time exceed one-third (1/3) of the total sentence.

C. 1. The earnings of a person participating in a work release

program may be collected by the county.

2. The county may deduct from the earnings of the work release

or community service program participant amounts necessary for the

payment of the following:

a.

incarceration costs,

b.

administrative expenses relating to participation in

the work release or community service program,

c.

court-ordered victim restitution, and

d.

court costs and fees associated with the criminal case

of the person.

Child support obligations for dependents of the person, if any,

shall be made as directed by the court.

Any remaining balance shall be returned to the person.

D. If the person violates any of the conditions of the work

release or community service program, custody or employment, the

person shall be suspended from further participation in the work

release or community service program. The sentencing court may

require the person to spend the remainder of the sentence in actual

confinement and may revoke any earned early release credits.

Added by Laws 2016, c. 273, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2016.