The four young siblings stood in the chilly air outside the Eddie Warrior Correctional Center on Wednesday evening, waiting to embrace their mother months after she was incarcerated in the Taft prison.
Destiny Pinon, 21, stood anxiously with her sisters Lexcee Delgado, 15, and Alyssa Delgado, 11, as brother Dominic Delgado, 8, ran around in the grass just beyond the prison’s fencing. When Juanita Peralta finally emerged, the Ada family’s reunion included squeals, tears and a lot of hugs.
“I don’t have to go back this time,” Peralta, 36, said to her children. “I get to go home with you guys.”
Gov. Mary Fallin on Wednesday commuted the sentences of 21 low-level offenders to time served, an action that came after voters in 2016 approved a state question that reclassified some nonviolent drug and property crimes and lawmakers passed criminal justice reform measures.
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State Question 780 classified drug possession and low-level property offenses as misdemeanors instead of felonies. Those who received commutations were sentenced prior to the new criminal justice laws taking effect.
The offenders were incarcerated for 10 years or more for crimes that now carry either no prison term or a significantly shorter sentences. Fallin said the 21 offenders were sentenced collectively to 349 years. Her action shaved 306 years off of that prison time, she said.
Family members, friends and loved ones applauded and cheered as Fallin signed each of the 21 commutations.
In a rare moment, Fallin got emotional at the news conference in the governor’s large conference room in the Capitol.
“As we prepare for the Christmas holiday season, let’s not forget there is a God of second chances,” the governor said.
She told family members that they will play a huge role in determining the success of the offenders as they leave prison.
Gail Dawson-Turner of Owasso was there on behalf of friend William Bensley, whose Craig County sentence was commuted to time served.
“He will get back on his feet after 26 years,” she said. “When he went in, there wasn’t even wifi. He hasn’t got to pet a dog in 26 years. He hasn’t gotten to open a refrigerator and fix his own food. He has no idea what life is like now.”
Terry Danley lives near Ottawa County. He was there on behalf of his daughter, Teresa Danley, whose sentence was also commuted.
“What the governor is doing is probably one of the greatest things there is,” he said.
For years, Oklahoma has led the nation in the number of people it incarcerates. The state prison system is overcrowded.
The commutation effort was spearheaded by Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform with the help of University of Tulsa College of Law students, the Tulsa County Public Defenders Office and others.
“The more the state focuses on rehabilitation and less on retribution, I think the better off we will be in Oklahoma,” said Tulsa County Chief Public Defender Corbin Brewster.
Kris Steele is executive director of Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform. As Oklahoma House Speaker, Steele championed criminal justice reform and continued on that path after he left office.
“Today signifies the fact that justice-involved families are going to get to be together for the holidays,” Steele said. “I think this is a step forward in Oklahoma, realizing that just because a person battles addiction or perhaps mental illness doesn’t mean they are a bad person.
“This signals we understand there is a better way to address issues of addiction and mental illness rather than incarceration,” he said.
Outside Eddie Warrior on Wednesday, family members, friends and criminal justice advocates gathered to wait for their loved ones to be released.
When Tracy Smallwood emerged from the prison, two years after she was sentenced to 15 years for a pair of drug charges, she said she was overwhelmed. The 48-year-old was on her way to a Wings of Freedom facility, which will provide her guidance and support to maintain sobriety.
After that, Smallwood said, she hoped to make it to Texas to reunite with her children.
“I just want to get my new life started,” she said.
