Parole board seeks binding opinion on medical parole statute

Summary:

– Inmate James Havens denied despite cancer diagnosis.

– DOC and board dispute who can refer medical parole cases.

– Aging prison population driving rising medical costs.

As the number of successful medical parole applications stagnates, the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted unanimously earlier this month to request a legal opinion on who has the authority to refer a prisoner to the medical parole docket.

The letter , which was delivered to the Attorney General’s Office on Oct. 7, inquires whether the board’s executive director may place an inmate on a medical parole docket. The Department of Corrections has interpreted the statute , which the Legislature updated in 2021 with the goal of expanding eligibility, as giving its director the final say on medical p