Editor’s note: This story was first published by Curbside Chronicle, Oklahoma City’s street paper.
Lisa Moss began the new year with a new life. She secured a job, created an email account and bought her first smartphone. When she opened a bank account, she was caught off guard. A clerk asked for Lisa’s “cell,” which made her freeze for a moment.
“I was thinking about my cell block,” she said with a laugh. “That was the day after I was released.”
For the past 34 years, Lisa was serving a life sentence at Mabel Bassett Correctional Center in McLoud. She was sentenced along with her brother in 1990 for the death of her husband. But on Jan. 8, she became the first person released under the Oklahoma Survivors’ Act. The new law allows courts to reduce sentences for people convicted of crimes if those crimes stemmed from abuse. Those already convicted can seek re-sentencing and must prove they were a victim of substantial enough abuse in “causing the defendant to commit the offense.”
Lisa’s attorneys successfully proved she had endured substantial abuse to qualify for a re-sentencing. Her January hearing lasted one day in a small Seminole County courtroom packed with her friends and family. The mood in the room was solemn, often the only sounds came from the creaky pews. The judge was direct and matter-of-fact, emphasizing that he would not condone any cheers, cries or other interruptions from the crowd. The hearing ended after the judge declared she would be released that very day — she was re-sentenced to 30 years, but she had already served 34. Lisa turns 60 in September.