Oklahoma continues to lead the nation in incarceration rates for women, reports News on 6.
As a matter of fact, the state appears to be leaving the competition in the dust. The state imprisoned women at a ten percent higher rate this year over last. And Oklahoma County imprisoned thirty-three percent more women this year than in 2015.
Gov. Mary Fallin has created a Justice Reform Task Force to examine state laws that lead to imprisonment.
But critics say the problem runs deeper. They insist the problem stems from a lack of mental health services in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma YWCA reports caring for many women who end up committing crimes after they have experienced domestic violence. And the problem spreads beyond the female population. More women behind bars means more children enter the system, adding to the overall cost to taxpayers.