OKLAHOMA SHOULD REDUCE NUMBER OF WOMEN PRISONERS

Senate should pass program to reduce women prisoners

Oklahoma, for years, has led the nation in the number of women
in prison per capita. Most of those are serving sentences for
nonviolent offenses.

The Oklahoma House recently unanimously passed legislation creating a
pilot program to reduce the number of women — especially mothers — who
are sentenced to prison  for nonviolent offenses.

The measure would place Oklahoma mothers who commit nonviolent offenses
in recovery programs instead of prison. Others about to finish their
sentences would enroll in re-entry programs focused on parenting and
employment skills.

We believe this is the right thing to do, and urge the state Senate to
approve the bill.

Oklahoma, for years, has led the nation in the number of women in
prison per capita. Most of those are serving sentences for nonviolent
offenses. The state’s female incarceration rate of 131 women per 100,000
residents is almost twice the national average of 69 per 100,000.

And if the plan works, we think it should be expanded to all prisoners. More than 25,000 are behind bars in Oklahoma — fifth highest in the
nation per capita — and most of those are in prison for nonviolent
crimes, according to the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.


A recent study showed one of every 12 adults in the state has been in
prison or on felony probation.


A study by a research committee at the Oklahoma Academy found that if
Oklahoma had just an average prison population, the Department of
Corrections’ annual budget be $100 million less.


In these economic times and with the state facing massive budget
shortfalls, this make sense. But this is by no means a quick fix. This is a long-range plan. The savings for the state would be far greater in the future.