Safer communities, stronger economies. We change laws that change lives.
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Last week, JAN Executive Director Lauren Krisai traveled to Oklahoma to present to lawmakers on why it’s time to end debt-based driver’s license suspensions.
It’s simple: For many Oklahomans, losing their driver's license isn't just an inconvenience. It means losing their ability to get to work, support their families, and meet other daily obligations.
Yet people across the state can have their licenses suspended simply because they cannot afford to pay outstanding court fines and fees.
Watch coverage from @kfor
This week, JAN Executive Director Lauren Krisai was invited to present to an Oklahoma interim legislative committee on the urgent need to reform debt-based driver’s license suspension laws. These interim committee hearings are important for laying the foundation for reform...
Suspending a person’s license for unpaid traffic tickets or missing a court date can create significant barriers to employment, financial stability, and everyday life.
@OKJusticeReform @FinesandFeesJC
JAN Executive Director Lauren Krisai is on the ground in Oklahoma today to testify before state lawmakers on the need for debt-based driver's license reform!
What happens when you can’t afford to pay court fines and fees? Unfortunately in Oklahoma, that could mean jail time.
New reporting from the @OklahomaWatch takes a closer look the practice of arresting people for unpaid debt - and why greater transparency is needed to understand the full scope of this practice.
Be sure to read the full piece: oklahomawatch.org/2026/10/07…
Arresting people for unpaid court fines and fees DOES happen and it DOES affect real people. The facts are undeniable, and these stories are why JAN worked with lawmakers this year to pass new reforms that require statewide reporting on arrests related to court debt.
1/ For years, a persistent lack of data has made it difficult to know when and how Oklahomans are arrested and jailed for unpaid court fines and fees.
3/ It’s an important step in the right direction. Good policy starts with knowing what’s actually happening on the ground and having the data to identify where change is most urgently needed.
4/ Check out this new report from @OklahomaWatch about why this matters so much: oklahomawatch.org/2026/10/07…
Public safety doesn’t mean subjecting inmates to inadequate prison conditions. In fact, providing basic things like air conditioning not only saves taxpayers money in the long run, it also can be part of a strategy to reduce the likelihood that prisoners will break the law again.
Texas has a choice to make, and the cost of doing nothing is getting higher by the day.
Read Estrella Lopez’s full op-ed in the Dallas Morning News here: dallasnews.com/opinion/comme…
On the same day JAN was in the news calling for Texas to install air conditioning in prisons, a federal judge ordered the state to do just that!
