Oklahoma Drug Courts Do Not Handle Misdemeanors – Why?

In Oklahoma, many people arrested for drug charges can seek help in drug court rather than going through the traditional legal process. Surprisingly, you cannot go to drug court if you have only a misdemeanor charge – you must have been charged with a felony. Back in 2016, Oklahomans approved State Question 780, which reclassified drug possession and some property crimes as misdemeanors rather than felonies. For example, possession of opiates is now a misdemeanor. Other drug crimes, such as distribution or trafficking, remain felonies under the law. Unfortunately, Oklahoma’s drug courts do not allow misdemeanor offenders to attend. These courts claim...