Thank you for contacting Governor Keating's office to voice your opinion about the pending parole recommendation for inmate William J. Foster (DOC #252721). As you may know, the pardon and parole process in Oklahoma is a two-stage process which begins with a vote of the Pardon and Parole Board and requires final approval of the Governor. The recommendation of the Board in this case has not yet been forwarded to this office.
When the Board approves an inmate for parole, that inmate must first meet any and all requirements set by the Board. This often includes having an approved place to live after release. The Process of meeting that and other requirements can often take some time, which results in delays of up to six months in recommendations being forwarded to the Governor. For that reason it is difficult to predict when inmate Foster's package will arrive in our office.
When parole recommendations are sent to the Governor, he uses several criteria to decide whether he will approve or reject the recommendation of the Board. Among those criteria are the recommendations of the district attorney responsible for prosecuting the original case and of the caseworkers and investigators who have dealt with the inmate's case during incarceration; the inmate's prior criminal record; completion of appropriate rehabilitation programs, and circumstances of the case itself. In the case of inmate Foster, the prosecuting attorney has already recommended that the parole be denied. Mr. Foster is a repeat offender whose conviction involved the cultivation of a large amount of marijuana intended for distribution, far beyond what would be expected for so-called "medicinal" uses. He has also made public statements concerning continued drug use in prison and his plans to resist anti-drug laws if he is released. Finally, Mr. Foster has apparently made no effort to confront his drug addiction during his incarceration.
While a number of people who contacted this office have urged Mr. Foster's immediate release and/or the legalization of marijuana and other drugs, many others who wrote or called are equally opposed to legalization and his release.
Sincerely,
Jerrod Shouse
Cabinet Liaison