USA - Oklahoma

USA - Oklahoma. Governor Scott ratified SB 599, which allows for the sentencing to death of child sex offenders

May 22, 2025:

May 22, 2025 - Oklahoma. Governor Kevin Scott ratified SB 599, which allows for the sentencing to death of child sex offenders. It will go into effect on 1 November, but does not actually apply for now.

SB 599 adds the death penalty or life imprisonment without the possibility of parole as potential penalties for anyone convicted of certain sexual offences against minors. Currently in Oklahoma, it is only possible to sentence a child rapist to death (if he does not kill the victim) if he is a convicted felon for the same offence. Under the new law, it would not be necessary for the offender to be on his second conviction. The measure also provides for harsher penalties for anyone convicted of inappropriately touching a child under the age of 12. The new penalties range from a minimum of 10 years, to life imprisonment without parole, to the death sentence. Anyone convicted of anal or oral sodomy with violence, rape or rape with the use of instruments on a child under the age of 14 will now be liable to the death penalty or life imprisonment without parole on the first offence. Three other states - Florida, Idaho and Tennessee - have adopted similar legislation, and seven other states are adopting similar measures this year.

The new law is not yet applicable, at least not before a new ruling by the US Supreme Court. In 2008, the Court had in fact declared a similar law unconstitutional (in Roe vs. Wade) under the Eighth Amendment against cruel and unusual punishment, stating that the death penalty should only be reserved for the ‘worst of the worst’ crimes, with murders being considered as such.

A movement has sprung up in some Republican-controlled states trusting that the Court, now more conservative than in 2008, called upon to decide again, would give a different opinion today.

‘We are confident that there will be another case coming before the US Supreme Court that will overturn the previous decision, giving states the opportunity to properly prosecute these monsters. Bill 599, which is about to become law, ensures that Oklahoma is ready with that option when that day comes,’ said Hamilton, sponsor of the bill.

https://www.koco.com/article/oklahoma-law-death-penalty-child-rapists-not-enforceable/64895732
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/oklahoma-bill-allowing-death-penalty-for-child-rapists-becomes-law-but-it-isnt-enforceable-yet/vi-AA1FARUc?ocid=BingNewsSerp