A multi-county grand jury has delivered a harsh report on Oklahoma's Department of Corrections GPS surveillance program, saying the process that sent Sara Polston from prison to electronic monitoring was “shockingly mechanical and unilateral at best, and at worst, unprincipled and callous.”
The report, released after the investigation ordered by the Oklahoma attorney general's office, said the program in its current form “reduces the criminal justice system to a purely administrative exercise that subverts the decisions of judges and stifles the voices of victims.”
That finding lands on a case that has already become a political flashpoint. Drummond said Polston nearly killed Micaela Borrego in a 2023 crash while driving under the influence. Borrego, who was 23, suffered brain damage and lasting injuries. Polston was released to the GPS program after serving 73 days of an 8-year sentence, and the report said Borrego's family was not consulted before that approval.
Drummond said the jury called the state of the GPS program “indefensible” and described instances of favoritism as “reprehensible.” He said he appreciated the jury's work and added that Oklahomans deserve a criminal justice system that is fair and impartial.
Gov. Kevin Stitt rejected that framing and called the report a politically motivated attack. He said, “My heart goes out to the victim, Micaela Borrego, and her family. This is a family whose lives are changed forever. She was severely injured. Justice got it right; the inmate should be punished. One hundred percent, my heart breaks for that victim. Drunk driving does not belong in the state of Oklahoma.” Stitt also said, “I did zero favors for this inmate. The grand jury said there is no criminal wrongdoing from DOC or the Governor's Office. What you have basically is political gossip and a political statement for a guy running for governor.”
The dispute has widened because Drummond's office said the Polstons made major contributions to Stitt's campaigns, and the report alleged Stitt made multiple calls to the Department of Corrections on Polston's behalf. The article also says the Polstons discussed using connections for Sara Polston's benefit in recorded jail phone calls, adding another layer to a case already under scrutiny. Oklahoma legislators recently passed SB 137 to tighten eligibility for the GPS program, a sign that the controversy may reshape how the state handles early release and electronic monitoring going forward.
The grand jury's report does not accuse DOC or the governor's office of criminal wrongdoing, but it does leave a damaging conclusion in place: Oklahoma's GPS system, as used in this case, gave victims too little voice and opened the door to favoritism that the jury says should not survive another review.
