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Bill

SB 1370

Criminal convictions; creating the Conviction Integrity Unit within the Office of the Attorney General. Effective date.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Erick Harris and 1 co-sponsor

Oklahoma bill creates Conviction Integrity Unit in Attorney General's office to investigate and review potentially wrongful criminal convictions for evidence of innocence and prosecutorial misconduct.

Second Reading referred to Judiciary Committee then to Appropriations Committee
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Bill Summary · SB 1370

Legislative bill overview

SB 1370 establishes a new Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU) within Oklahoma's Office of the Attorney General to investigate and review potentially wrongful criminal convictions. The unit would have authority to examine cases involving evidence of innocence, prosecutorial misconduct, or other integrity issues. The bill sets an effective date for when this new unit becomes operational.

Why is this important

Wrongful convictions harm innocent people and undermine public trust in the justice system. A dedicated CIU provides a formal mechanism to identify and correct these errors, potentially freeing innocent individuals and addressing systemic flaws in criminal proceedings. This reflects a growing national trend of states establishing similar units to review cases post-conviction.

Potential points of contention

  • Resource allocation: Creating and staffing a new unit requires budget appropriations; opponents may question whether funds should go elsewhere or argue the AG's office already has adequate resources for this function
  • Scope of review authority: Disputes may arise over which cases qualify for review, whether the unit can overturn convictions independently or only recommend actions, and potential conflicts with finality interests in criminal cases
  • Political considerations: Questions about whether an elected Attorney General's office can impartially investigate convictions from cases their predecessors prosecuted, and concerns about selective application based on political priorities

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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