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


Kendrick Simpson's Clemency Hearing

Kendrick Simpson Clemency Hearing with the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board has been scheduled for Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 9:00 am. Mr. Simpson is scheduled for execution on February 12, 2026.

The clemency hearing is open to the public. You can attend in person or watch online via zoom. We highly encourage attendance in person as a show of support for Kendrick and his loved ones.

Attendance Information and Guidelines:

  • Clemency hearings typically run a bit over two hours. Each side's counsel has 40 minutes, the victim's family has 20 minutes, and the person who is incarcerated has 20 minutes. The Pardon and Parole Board can ask questions and discuss before voting.
  • Arrive early (15 minutes or more) to go through security and get a seat before the hearing begins.
  • You should bring your ID with you to sign in.
  • Cell phones are prohibited. You should not be on your phone or take any pictures during the hearing.

Zoom Information:
Web Address: https://doc-ok.zoomgov.com/j/1605301615
Webinar ID: 160 530 1615
Call: 1 669 254 5252 or +1 669 216 1590

For more info click here.

Childhood photos of Kendrick Simpson

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.

The Real Death Row

As a former capital defense attorney, I visited Oklahoma death row - and death row prisoners - for 25 years. That inside view taught me two things that, at first, surprised me.

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Bail Reform Talking Points and FAQs

Money bail is supposed to be used as a mechanism to ensure someone’s reappearance in court.

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ACLU of Oklahoma Selects National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center, Freedom Oklahoma’s Allie Shinn, and Nancy McDonald to Receive 2019 Civil Liberties Awards

The American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma has announced its 2019 award winners, which include the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center (NIWRC) and Allie Shinn, Executive Director of Freedom Oklahoma, as recipients of the Angie Debo Award. This award is given in recognition and celebration of the courage and tenacity displayed by these groups and individuals in the pursuit of civil liberties.

Annual Membership Meeting

Statements from the ACLU of Oklahoma on the Passage of Senate Bill 614

SB 614 is based on unproven, unethical research that seeks to undermine a medical procedure at the expense of a person’s safety and medical rights. The ACLU has fought nearly identical legislation to this bill in a number of states.

SB614

ACLU of Oklahoma Responds to Senate Bill 711 that Dangerously Expands Definition of Criminal Street Gangs

Senate Bill 711 is a dangerous and laughable effort to increase prosecutorial leverage against the accused while fueling Oklahoma’s mass incarceration crisis and adding to the racial disparities that exist in Oklahoma’s criminal justice system.

Lobby Day 19 1.0

Statements from ACLU of Oklahoma in Response to Crises at County Jails in Oklahoma

News stories coming out of several Oklahoma county jails are just a snapshot of the issues we know take place within our criminal justice system. The ACLU applauds Nowata County Sheriff Terry Sue Barnett’s refusal to reopen Nowata County Jail amid condition concerns for staff and detained people.

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ACLU of Oklahoma Releases Polling Results Showing Strong Support for Meaningful Criminal Justice Reform Among Likely 2020 Voters

The ACLU of Oklahoma’s Campaign for Smart Justice released key findings of a survey completed by EMC Research of likely voters in 2020 that demonstrates support for criminal justice reform remains high across the state, no matter political affiliation.

Box People. Not Prisons.

FAQ: Oklahoma City's Anti-Panhandling Ordinance

The McCraw case is about protecting the freedom of speech for Oklahomans. In reaction to complaints about the visibility of panhandlers in Oklahoma City, the City Council passed an ordinance prohibiting virtually all activity on medians. It is an affront to free speech rights.

OKC City Hall

‘You Miss So Much When You’re Gone’: The Lasting Harm of Jailing Mothers Before Trial in Oklahoma

Mothers in jail are being torn from their families and losing contact with their children even before they have been convicted of a crime.

Mothers Report