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OKLAHOMA CITY — An interim study Monday on mental health treatment in the Oklahoma County Detention Center highlighted what speakers and lawmakers say are key issues, including lack of access to care, overcrowding and inadequate mental health resources.
State Rep. Jason Lowe, D-Oklahoma City, a criminal defense attorney, held the study with the House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee at the Capitol Monday morning to highlight mental health issues in Oklahoma jails during what he called a nationwide crisis. He asked speakers about how the problems they discuss could be addressed.
Cole Allen, policy fellow for the Oklahoma Policy Institute, said mental health in Oklahoma jails and the criminal justice system at large is an important issue. He said it’s something that Oklahoma has been working on for the past several years, and although there’s been progress, there’s a long way to go. He began his presentation stating that mental health treatment and diversion services are the best options for reducing the burden on Oklahoma jails.
According to Mental Health America, Oklahoma ranks 47th in mental health treatment. Allen said availability and the cost of care exacerbate the issue, and when left untreated, mental illness can result in behaviors that lead to law enforcement intervention.
Allen said Oklahoma is a national leader in the use of Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC), which are designed to provide a comprehensive range of mental health and substance use disorder services.
“If we can protect those and expand them, we can help prevent a lot of crises from happening in the first place, and for things that can’t be prevented, that’s where diversion comes in,” Allen said. “It’s effective. We know it works, but it’s still somewhat limited.”
In the first of several questions from lawmakers directed at presenters, Lowe asked Allen about the lack of expediency he’s seen in cases where clients need diversion resources, but sometimes, appointments aren’t available for weeks.
Allen said statute requires immediate treatment only for people who are determined by law enforcement to be an immediate threat to themselves or others. He said this leaves a gap for people who have serious mental health needs but might not be immediately threatening.
“I think by expanding our diversion options before jail even becomes a choice, I think that is a big way to prevent that, and ensuring that once individuals get to jail, that we expand diversion services in our urban and especially our rural areas, to ensure that those wait times are not as long,” Allen said, suggesting that funding from State Question 781, which is currently at $12.5 million, could be used by counties to invest in prevention and diversion services.
Allen noted that most people inside the Oklahoma County Detention Center are there because they are awaiting their day in court, but can’t afford to post bail. As a result, the jail is well beyond 100% capacity.
Damion Shade, executive director at Oklahomans For Criminal Justice Reform, said Oklahoma has systematically undervalued investments in mental health treatment that prevent crime. He also said the ‘tough on crime’ stance is destroying rural communities.
According to the OFCJR presentation, Native American women are three times more likely to be incarcerated than their counterparts, and they are experiencing some of the worst and most frequent distress.
“The tribes are definitely working on this. I will say I know at least the Cherokee Nation and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation have deliberately started investing more in community mental health, and I’m waiting for the Oklahoma legislature and our leaders to do the same, particularly in those rural areas that have low access,” Shade said.
Jess Eddy, Chief Development Officer with LiveFree OKC, described the Oklahoma County Detention Center general population experience as “gladiator school.” The reason for that, he said, is partially due to structural inadequacies, understaffing and low pay for corrections officers who deal with individuals going through some of the worst times in their lives on a daily basis.
The committee chair, State Rep. J.J. Humphrey, R-Lane, said he found $43 million in the Corrections Department budget without re-appropriation or increasing any taxes or levying new ones.
“We need to increase the salaries, we need to increase staffing, because most of these staffing levels are at 50% but again, what I’m saying, I believe a lot of the money is there and just is being misappropriated,” Humphrey said. “We need to find the appropriate use for those funds.”
Tammy Westcott, director of criminal justice services for the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, highlighted the success of drug courts, serving over 2,000 offenders, reducing recidivism and unemployment. She emphasized the need for evidence-based practices and additional training for all drug courts in Oklahoma.
With additional funding needed to better support drug courts, Westcott pointed to State Question 781. She said funding is available now.
“We need all the counties to go for that money,” Westcott said, explaining that FY 2025 funding could help communities with education, housing and treatment.