The Oklahoman Editorial Board of NewsOK recently took a look at the increasing size of Oklahoma’s criminal code. The Board notes that one of the contributing factors to this result is the legislature’s trend of adding new crimes to the code each year, but neglecting to remove outdated criminal acts.
“The result is a criminal code with 1,232 sections — more than 10 times the number recommended by the American Law Institute in its Model Penal Code — and which is so wide-ranging that it puts everyday Oklahomans at risk of breaking the law without any intent whatsoever.”
The piece offers ideas presented by two Manhattan Institute researchers on how to address the obstacle of overcriminalization.