Oklahoma group submits signatures for sentencing question

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A group seeking to reduce Oklahoma’s high incarceration rate has delivered more than 260,000 signatures as part of its effort to get a state question on the ballot.

Volunteers with Yes on 805 delivered boxes of signatures on Monday to the Oklahoma Secretary of State’s Office. The group is seeking to amend the state constitution to prohibit prosecutors from using previous felony convictions to enhance prison sentences. They say this practice leads to Oklahoma prisoners serving far more time behind bars than inmates in other states, especially for drug and property crimes.

Many state prosecutors opposed the plan.