LEGAL UPDATE: Age Limitation for Entry into Delayed Sentencing Program Increased to Twenty-Five
OVERVIEW OF DELAYED SENTENCING AND REGIMENT INMATE DISCIPLINE
The age limit for entry into Delayed Sentencing has increased to Twenty-Five for the best reason possible; fewer offenders are going to prison due to drug possession offenses being categorized as misdemeanors!
Free Resources from OKC Criminal Defense Attorneys:
Have you or a loved one been arrested in Oklahoma City? Are you concerned about your future following arrest in Oklahoma? Our team of Your Fierce Advocates® at Cannon & Associates is led by Army Veteran, John Cannon and we’re privileged to fight for client’s rights and freedom in Oklahoma criminal defense cases. Please review our other FREE RESOURCES until we can answer your specific Oklahoma criminal defense questions:
Have you been charged with a serious crime? Have you been arrested? Got warrants?! Worried about defending those charges or worried about how you can make them go away? Well it doesn’t have to be that way. Serious steps need to be taken to avoid charges from becoming convictions. If you answered yes to any of these questions, you need a defense lawyer right away. A lawyer can stop the police from contacting you directly. If you want to get this resolved so you can go back to living your life, CALL NOW at (405) 972-8604. We’re available 24 hours a day, and 7 days a week to schedule a Free Case Planning Session to understand your options and rights in an Oklahoma criminal case!
The Delayed Sentencing Program, also known as the Regimented Inmate Discipline Program or RID, is detailed in Oklahoma criminal statutes at OKLA. STAT. tit. 22 §§ 996 to 996.3. The rules and policies of the program are contained in Section 996.3, which is available here online. This program is designed for young adults that are too old to be classified as juveniles or youthful offenders yet can still benefit from leniency not afforded to adult offenders.
There are two versions of this program: in-custody and out-of-custody. The majority of young adults allowed to participate in this program must attend the in-custody program that is similar to military boot camp. The out of custody program allows an individual to go home each night; however, he or she must complete a number of tasks that are equally as demanding as the in-custody program, which, in some circumstances, may be more difficult than the in-custody program.
CHANGE IN THE LAW TO INCREASE ELIGIBILITY
Originally, RID was started by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections (DOC) as a deferred sentencing alternative for young adults ages eighteen (18) to twenty-one (21) years old. Young or Youthful Offenders in this small age range do not qualify as a juvenile or youthful offender, yet often these young adults need additional guidance, discipline, and tools necessary to become productive members of society. For these reasons, effective November 21, 2021, the Oklahoma Legislature opened the age range for RID eligibility! Young adults facing serious criminal charges may now participate in RID or Delayed Sentencing up to the age of twenty-five (25) years old. This is a great step in the right direction for decreasing the number of young men and women in prison.
To clarify, the offender must be between the ages of eighteen (18) to twenty-five (25) at the time of a verdict of guilty, a plea of guilty, or a plea of no contest for a nonviolent felony offense; or, alternatively, the offender may be a juvenile who has been certified to stand trial as an adult for a nonviolent felony offense, who has no charges pending for a violent offense and who has not been convicted or adjudicated as a juvenile delinquent or youthful offender.
In addition to being between the ages of eighteen (18) to twenty-five (25), to be eligible for RID, the offender must not be convicted of any violent crimes. The complete list of violent crimes, drug crimes, and sex crimes that prohibit participation in RID can be found here.
WHAT IS RID & HOW DOES IT WORK?
RID is similar to military boot camp in that it is an intensive program with limited freedom, many rules, and physical activity. The program can be completed in six months; however, it often takes up to one year to complete. The Oklahoma Department of Corrections tracks the conduct and misconduct of every participant and presents a Pre-Sentence Investigation report (PSI) to the Court for consideration at sentencing. The PSI will recommend a probation plan for the offender, including treatment, drug rehabilitation or drug treatment, restitution, education or vocational training, and other programs that address the identified needs of the offender.
Upon successful completion of RID, the offender will return to court along with the prosecutor and the Criminal Defense Attorney and the parties may reach an agreement for the offender’s probation or sentence. Whenever an offender is offered a plea deal that he or she is unwilling to accept; his or her Criminal Defense Attorney can argue for a better sentence from the Court. This is one of the most important reasons to hire an experienced and talented Criminal Defense Attorney in Delayed Sentencing cases.
At sentencing, the Court will either (1) dismiss the case; (2) defer sentencing to allow the offender the opportunity to complete probation then have the case dismissed; (3) sentence the offender, which may be suspended; (4) require participation in community sentencing; or (5) sentence the offender to a term of imprisonment.
CONCLUSION
Facing serious felony charges in Oklahoma is stressful enough; however, adding the factor of being a young adult in this situation is even more difficult. Fortunately, the legislature has created an opportunity for young adults to avoid prison or jail time by participation in Delayed Sentencing and have now increased eligibility for participation in RID for those ages 18 to 25 years old!
Free Resources from OKC Criminal Defense Attorneys:
Have you or a loved one been arrested in Oklahoma City? Are you concerned about your future following arrest in Oklahoma? Our team of Your Fierce Advocates® at Cannon & Associates is led by Army Veteran, John Cannon and we’re privileged to fight for client’s rights and freedom in Oklahoma criminal defense cases. Please review our other FREE RESOURCES until we can answer your specific Oklahoma criminal defense questions:
Have you been charged with a serious crime? Have you been arrested? Got warrants?! Worried about defending those charges or worried about how you can make them go away? Well it doesn’t have to be that way. Serious steps need to be taken to avoid charges from becoming convictions. If you answered yes to any of these questions, you need a defense lawyer right away. A lawyer can stop the police from contacting you directly. If you want to get this resolved so you can go back to living your life, CALL NOW at (405) 972-8604. We’re available 24 hours a day, and 7 days a week to schedule a Free Case Planning Session to understand your options and rights in an Oklahoma criminal case!
Although the program is as difficult as it sounds, it is an opportunity to avoid prison and a felony conviction. You should contact an experienced Criminal Defense Attorney as early as possible in your criminal case, especially if you or a loved one is a young adult.