GENERALLY SPEAKING / From the desk of Gentner Drummond
The state Legislature’s recently concluded 2024 session was a productive one for public safety in Oklahoma. I appreciate the work of our lawmakers to prioritize law and order and to strengthen the ability of law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to hold criminals accountable.
Illegal immigration
One of Oklahoma’s most notable new laws, House Bill 4156, allows state law enforcement to arrest illegal immigrants who are in the state unlawfully and involved in criminal activity. The abject failure of the Biden Administration to secure our nation’s border has helped fuel Oklahoma’s numerous illegal marijuana grows, many of which are run by foreign nationals. This measure will greatly assist my office’s Organized Crime Task Force in its efforts to eliminate these clandestine operations.
Child pornography and artificial intelligence
Perhaps more than ever before, it is critical for our laws to keep pace with technology. House Bill 3642 does so by expanding the definition of child pornography to include computer-generated or altered images of children being forced to engage in sexually explicit conduct. The law also clarifies definitions of child pornography, obscenity, visual depiction and sexually explicit conduct and makes the possession of each individual image of child sexual abuse material a separate crime.
Child predators know all too well how to exploit technological advances. We must do everything in our power to protect children now and into the future.
Domestic abuse
As Oklahoma has the tragic distinction of having one of the highest rates of domestic abuse in the nation, I am grateful that legislators passed two important bills addressing this social ill.
The House and Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 2039, which now awaits Gov. Stitt’s signature. The legislation ensures funding to domestic violence is distributed where the need is greatest. This new fund will direct an additional $10 million in grants from the Attorney General’s Office to certified domestic violence and sexual assault providers statewide. It will also help expand access to services for underserved populations.
Moreover, SB 2039 is aimed at enhancing safety for families impacted by domestic violence and sexual assault, as well as helping providers better address these horrific crimes.
Senate Bill 1211, which has already been signed into law, increases the penalty for the strangulation of intimate partners from three years to 10 years. This measure was a key recommendation from the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board.
Vulnerable adults
Important protections for vulnerable adults also emerged from this year’s session. House Bill 3668 increases the statute of limitations for the sexual abuse of vulnerable adults to 12 years, making it consistent with all other categories of sexual abuse. The previous amount of time to report the crime had been only three years.
This updating is vital for protection of our elderly and vulnerable adults. Patients who reside in a nursing home or with a caretaker may not have the cognitive ability necessary to convey abuse they have suffered, which can prolong the amount of time it takes to investigate and prosecute abusers.
Rape
The passage of time should not impede the prosecution of rapists when there is a confession or when identity is established. Senate Bill 1658 eliminates the statute of limitations for rape in cases where an assailant confesses to the crime. In addition, the statute of limitations for rape was extended from 12 to 20 years, providing additional time for prosecution.
The fentanyl crisis
Amid the opioid crisis in Oklahoma, fentanyl continues to exact a deadly toll. Senate Bill 1280 helps us in our fight by defining mixing fentanyl with other substances as manufacturing. The penalty carries a sentence of seven years to life in prison. This law sends a strong message to anyone engaged in manufacturing this lethal drug that their dangerous behavior will be met with severe punishment.
Such efforts help equip law enforcement officers and prosecutors with better tools to enhance the safety of Oklahomans. I appreciate the great work of our state lawmakers in this endeavor.
