Should People Who Killed Their Abusers Walk Free?

Should People Who Killed Their Abusers Walk Free?

June 25, 2026 · 39 min

About this episode

The episode discusses a new Oklahoma law allowing some convicted of murder to seek freedom if they can prove domestic violence was a significant factor in their actions.

In 2024, Oklahoma legislators passed an unusual law: It would create a pathway to freedom for people who could prove that domestic violence was a substantial contributing factor to their crime — even if that crime was first-degree murder. Members of a “survivor sisterhood” who’d found a connection in their shared histories of abuse hoped that, perhaps, they would all soon be going home. But, as reporter Pamela Colloff discovered, nothing would play out as expected. Reporter: Pamela Colloff Read More: https://www.propublica.org/article/oklahoma-survivors-act-domestic-violence Support our journalism by donating at propublica.org/donate .

People in this episode

Guest: Pamela Colloff

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Oklahoma, ProPublica

Books & works: survivor sisterhood

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