Criminal Law Reform

Ending Indefinite Solitary Confinement for the Vast Majority of People with Death Sentences in Oklahoma

After years of working collaboratively with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, we are proud to announce the end of indefinite solitary confinement for the vast majority of people incarcerated with death sentences in Oklahoma.

By Travis Handler

Latest Event


OKC Pride Parade 2026

We are ecstatic to have you join us, as we walk in the annual Oklahoma City Pride Parade on Sunday, June 28th. As you probably know, the work of the ACLU is now more critical than ever, and we want this year's parade group to be the biggest yet!

Please complete the following registration form and we will be in contact with further details.

The first 80 people to register are guaranteed to receive a free limited-edition ACLU of Oklahoma t-shirt. We do not have a max on how many people can walk with us, but we cannot guarantee t-shirts will be available.

**Please submit one registration entry for every person (children too) that will be walking with us, so that we can have an accurate count for t-shirts and water.**

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Carly Heitland at cheitland@acluok.org.

We the People with a rainbow flag

More from the Press


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Stay informed on civil rights issues. Discover our latest actions and updates in the Press Release section.

Getting to Know Kendrick Simpson on Death Row

I’ve had the opportunity to get to know the next man Oklahoma plans to kill, Kendrick Simpson. Kendrick and I have visited down on death row many times as I’ve worked with my colleagues and with Kendrick to improve conditions for all the guys on death row. It’s been a privilege to get to know Kendrick and, since you don’t have the same opportunity, I’d like to share my experience with you.

By Randy Bauman

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The Breakdown: Week of March 7, 2022

The ACLU OK Oklahoma's weekly policy and advocacy newsletter.

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The Breakdown: Week of February 28, 2022

The ACLU OK Oklahoma's weekly policy and advocacy newsletter.

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The Breakdown: Week of February 14, 2022

The ACLU OK Oklahoma's weekly policy and advocacy newsletter.

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Pardon and Parole Board Review of Death Sentences: Two Paths

Julius Jones is seeking relief from his death sentence per a procedure clearly allowed by law and regulation.

By Randy Bauman

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We Created the Current Prison Lockdown

Last weekend, violence at 6 Oklahoma facilities led to 36 people being injured so badly they had to be transported away from prison for treatment, and the death of a 27-year-old man.

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ACLU Official Praises Execution Stays

"We applaud the news that executions are on hold in Oklahoma until the Spring of 2016," Kiesel said. "For the next few months at least, we can be grateful that the state has put away its instruments of death."

However, Kiesel said the organization finds it "extremely difficult to imagine that during the next few months the state will be able to demonstrate that it should be trusted with the most awesome power a people can cede to its government."

"That becomes increasingly less likely with the continued insistence on secrecy and resistance to independent oversight," he said. "We hope during this sobriety from state sponsored murder the people of Oklahoma and their elected representatives will seize the opportunity to reflect on the unavoidable failure of any system capital punishment."

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ACLU Executive Director Ryan Kiesel speaks during a rally to stop the death penalty.

RESTORATION OF THE ANTI-DEATH PENALTY PROJECT

Matt Whalen, Project Director

The American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma is proud to announce the revitalization of the ACLU of Oklahoma Anti-Death Penalty Project. This project has been dormant for the past decade and members of t

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