Over the next decade, Oklahoma will need three more prisons if the state doesn’t take action to constrain the prison population, which as The Oklahoman reports, is projected to increase by 25 percent over the next 10 years.
That is more than 7,000 additional prisoners.
Oklahoma boasts the second highest imprisonment rate in the country and the highest rate for imprisoning women and as The Oklahoman reports, about 60 percent of the prison population have symptoms or a history of mental illness.
Drug possession is at the top of the list for incarcerations.
The Oklahoma Justice Reform Task Force, which consists of law enforcement officers, prosecutors, judges, business men and women, victim advocates, mental health and addiction professionals, and legislators, found that existing prison population already exceeds capacity.
The task force has been developing recommendations for improving public safety, control corrections spending and improve recidivism rates since its formation in July that are expected to be delivered to lawmakers prior to the legislative session that begins Feb. 6.
