What is The 85% Rule in Oklahoma: What It Means for Your Future

85% Rule in Oklahoma

85% Rule in Oklahoma is harsh and will greatly extend the time a person spends in jail. In Oklahoma, a “10-year sentence” doesn’t always mean 10 years. For most crimes, inmates can earn “good time credits” or become eligible for parole after serving a fraction of their time—often as little as 25% to 33%. However, for a specific list of serious offenses, Oklahoma law triggers the 85% Rule. This rule is one of the strictest sentencing laws in the country, and understanding it is vital if you… Read More

Understanding Drug Trafficking in Oklahoma: It’s Not Just About Sales

Understanding Drug Trafficking

Understanding Drug Trafficking helps you better prepare for what is to come. When most people hear the term “drug trafficking,” they imagine large-scale cartels or sophisticated smuggling operations. However, under the Oklahoma Trafficking in Illegal Drugs Act, the legal reality is much broader—and much more dangerous for the average person. In Oklahoma, drug trafficking isn’t necessarily defined by what you do with the drugs (like selling or transporting them); it is primarily defined by how much of the substance you have in your possession. 1. The “Weight”… Read More

Class A to D: Understanding Oklahoma’s New Felony Classification System

New Felony System

Oklahoma’s New Felony Classification System makes the law a bit easier for residents to understand. Oklahoma’s criminal sentencing structure has undergone significant reform in recent years. One of the most important changes is the transition to a standardized felony classification system—commonly referred to as the Class A through Class D felony system. For individuals facing charges in Oklahoma, understanding this structure is essential. The classification of an offense now plays a central role in determining sentencing ranges, plea negotiations, and long-term consequences. Why Oklahoma Changed Its Felony Structure Historically,… Read More

What If I Get a DUI With a Child in the Car?

DUI With a Child

A DUI with a child in the car is a felony. A DUI arrest is serious under any circumstances; however, if you are charged with driving under the influence while your child is in the vehicle, the legal consequences in Oklahoma can increase significantly. Having a minor passenger often transforms what might otherwise be a standard DUI case into a situation involving enhanced penalties and possible additional charges. Standard DUI Charges in Oklahoma In Oklahoma, a person may be charged with DUI if they operate a motor vehicle while… Read More

Will I Be Required to Install an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) After a DUI in Oklahoma

Install an Ignition Interlock

If you plead to or are convicted of a DUI in Oklahoma, you are required to install an Ignition Interlock. Under the Impaired Driver Accountability Program (IDAP)—the mandatory path for most Oklahomans to keep driving after a DUI arrest—the installation of an IID is no longer just a suggestion; it is a prerequisite for legal driving. Immediate Action Required Because you are required to install an Ignition Interlock, you will be able to take advantage of IDAP and avoid a total loss of driving privileges; you must… Read More

Refusing the Breathalyzer in 2026: Risks vs. Rewards Under the New DUI Law In Oklahoma

Refusing the Breathalyzer

For decades, many Oklahomans believed that refusing the breathalyzer was the “smart” move to keep evidence away from prosecutors. However, as of late 2025 and into 2026, the math has changed. With the implementation of Senate Bill 54, the decision to “blow or not to blow” now carries higher stakes than ever before. If you are pulled over in Tulsa for a suspected DUI, you need to understand how the new laws affect your freedom, your license, and your criminal record. The “Reward”: Can You Actually Starve… Read More

What If I Continue to Use Drugs While I’m in Tulsa Drug Court?

Use Drugs in Drug Court

Drug Court in Oklahoma is designed to offer treatment and accountability instead of traditional incarceration. It is an opportunity—but also a structured, highly supervised program. One of the most common and most serious concerns participants face is relapse. If you continue to use drugs while in Oklahoma Drug Court, the consequences depend on when, how often, and how you respond, but the situation can quickly become serious. Drug Court Is Built on Accountability and Compliance Drug Court is not simply probation. It is an intensive program involving treatment, regular court… Read More

What is The Purpose of a Faretta Hearing in Oklahoma

Faretta Hearing

In Oklahoma, a Faretta Hearing is part of an individual’s case where the defendant wants to represent themselves. In the American legal system, you have a constitutional right to an attorney, but you also have a constitutional right to represent yourself. However, a judge cannot simply take your word for it that you are ready to handle a criminal trial alone. In Oklahoma, before you are allowed to proceed “pro se” (representing yourself), the court must conduct what is known as a Faretta Hearing. What is a… Read More

Can The Police Force You to Unlock Your Phone in Oklahoma?

Uttering a forged instrument

Smartphones contain some of the most private information a person owns—messages, photos, banking apps, location data, internet searches, and more. So it’s no surprise that one of the most common questions we receive in Oklahoma criminal cases is: “Can the police force me to unlock my phone?” The short answer is: usually no—Oklahoma law and the U.S. Constitution provide strong protections against compelled phone searches. But the full answer involves understanding how the Fifth Amendment, search warrants, and digital privacy rules work together. 1. The Police Cannot… Read More

What Oklahoma’s New DUI Law Means for Those Facing Charges

Oklahoma’s New DUI Law

Oklahoma’s New DUI Law Starts November 1, 2025. The state of Oklahoma will implement major reforms to its driving-under-the-influence (DUI) laws. They significantly raise the stakes for drivers charged with DUI. These changes expand when a DUI may be charged as a felony and impose more severe consequences for impairing driving in certain aggravating circumstances. For anyone facing a DUI in Oklahoma — or advising someone who is — the landscape has shifted. Here’s what you need to know. What’s Changing in the DUI Law? Here are… Read More