FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Ray Carter, House Media Capitol: (405) 557-7421  Contact: State Rep. John Trebilcock Capitol: (405) 557-7362 Broken Arrow: (918) 407-7745  Lawmaker Criticizes Early Release Proposals  OKLAHOMA CITY (July 15) - State Rep. John Trebilcock said "cost saving" proposals unveiled by the Senate Democratic leadership this week appear to be early release programs that could free dangerous criminals. 	"After reviewing the Democrats' plan, I am concerned that several of their cost-saving proposals will simply put violent criminals back on the streets in the name of saving money," said Trebilcock, a Broken Arrow Republican who chairs the appropriation subcommittee that funds state prisons. "I will oppose any effort to weaken Oklahoma's sentencing laws. If we release hardened criminals in the name of saving a few dollars, the real cost could be paid in the blood of our citizens when these violent predators strike again." 	The Democratic plan released Thursday called for "re-entry Drug Courts for inmates already in DOC custody." 	"Although the Democrats provide few details, this appears to be an effort to move potentially violent drug dealers back into the community before they finish serving their full sentence," Trebilcock said. "That's not something I or most of my House colleagues will support. The public expects dangerous criminals to serve every year of their sentence in prison." 	The Democrat proposal also calls for reducing penalties for "technical" parole violations so criminals will not automatically be returned to prison for infractions, but Trebilcock noted a Republican-authored bill recently signed into law already allows intermediate punishments to be imposed for paperwork violations. 	"Any expansion of that reform needs to be carefully considered and not rushed through the Legislature as an 'emergency,'" Trebilcock said. "If we make the law too lenient, it will tell criminals they can violate parole without serious consequence and we'll give the state's blessing to criminals who do not want to obey the law and have nothing but the threat of prison holding them back." 	While critical of several elements of the Democrats' plan, Trebilcock said he was pleased they were finally taking prison issues seriously.  	"In recent years, Republicans have fought an uphill battle to get Democratic leaders to pay attention to public safety," he said.  	In 2004, when Democrats controlled both the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the state Senate, several Republican proposals to boost corrections funding and strengthen criminal penalties were killed, Trebilcock noted. 	For example, House Bill 1862 would have increased the pay of corrections officers by 5 percent. However, Democratic leaders did not allow the bill to receive a vote. 	Another Republican measure, House Bill 2295, would have required inmates to repay the state for the cost of their incarceration. The bill passed the House with bipartisan support but was killed in the Senate when that chamber's Democratic leadership refused to allow a vote. 	"I and many of my colleagues have long argued that public safety should be a top issue in the Oklahoma Legislature and I'm pleased that Senate leadership is finally on board," Trebilcock said.  -30-