Oklahoma law mandates that an inmate must serve 85% of the sentenced time. The state confines 25,000 inmates, with prisoners 50 years of age and older becoming the most rapidly rising population,. According to a July 23, 2010 editorial in the Oklahoman, this aging population needs more health care, and more health care means more money spent from the state’s budget. Oklahoma also incarcerates more females than any other state, which has an enormous effect on children of incarcerated mothers.
The Republican and Democratic candidates for Governor are aware of that their state faces a correctional crisis.. Drew Edmonson (D) declared that continuous studies have shown that up to 90% of the inmate population have substance abuse or mental health issues. Lieutenant Governor Jari Adkins (D) suggested that Oklahomans look to Minnesota’s community- based effort to reduce unlawful actions before they reach the point of incarceration. Adkins also spoke of the state’s reduction of treatment alternatives for prisoners with a history of drug addiction.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Marv Fallin also acknowledged that a substantial amount of inmates have mental health, alcohol and substance abuse problems. Fellow Republican, and steadfast conservative, Randy Brogdon spoke on the need to stop warehousing prisoners and start to reform them, particularly with faith-based programs.
While criminal justice reform is a an idea that the candidates all seem to be advocating, Oklahoma’s lawmakers have introduced more than 24 bills in 2010 that called for categorizing more crimes as felonies, and over 20 bills pushed for an increase in penalties for other crimes.. While many in Oklahoma espouse a tough on crime attitude, those vying for the state’s top position are claiming that they will consider other options to reduce correctional costs and will provide help to prisoners with mental health or drug problems.
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