Jail population drops, diversion programs expand due to Oklahoma County justice reform efforts

Transformative changes implemented by the Criminal Justice Advisory Council (CJAC) have led to a significant drop in the Oklahoma County jail population and the expansion of a mental health diversion program.

Historic Milestone Reached in Jail Population Reduction

The first half of fiscal year 2024 (FY24) marked a significant milestone for Oklahoma County, with the jail population hitting two historic lows. The Oklahoma County Detention Center (OCDC) population has steadily declined since the onset of the pandemic, culminating in record lows by the end of last year. In December 2023, the monthly average population dropped to 1,289, marking a 27-year low.

In comparison, Tulsa County's jail population for the same date was 1,446. Throughout December, OCDC maintained an average of 1,289, while Tulsa County's average was 1,390. Despite Oklahoma County's population being 125,000 higher than Tulsa County's, its jail population is no longer the highest in the state. This is particularly noteworthy given that Oklahoma County's overall population has grown by 3.2% since 2015.

The Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, with local leaders, began focusing on criminal justice reform in 2015. That work spurred the creation of CJAC, a permanent oversight body responsible for executing six key recommendations: establishing oversight mechanisms, reducing jail admissions for low-level offenses, improving pre-trial release processes, addressing court case processing delays, expanding diversion programs and mitigating the impact of fines and fees on jail growth and recidivism.

Substantial progress has been made on several of those goals, including increasing the use of diversion programs. Pre-trial release, alternative sentencing and mental health diversion programs have all expanded.

Innovative Diversion Program Sees Rapid Expansion

In less than a year, the Court-Ordered Outpatient (CO-OP) mental health diversion program has grown to over 160 participants. It is expected to continue expanding, especially with the recent addition of three recovery navigators to the Oklahoma County Diversion Hub. These navigators, all Peer Recovery Support Specialists and graduates of the Oklahoma County Treatment Court Programs, play a crucial role in assisting clients with various needs, including housing, employment, benefits applications and obtaining identification documents. They also help clients stay compliant with their outpatient services.

The recovery navigators' primary goal is to facilitate the transition of clients from the Oklahoma County Detention Center (OCDC) to their outpatient treatment providers, ensuring they receive services promptly. After this initial connection, the navigators continue to support clients and provide access to stabilizing services while ensuring they attend their appointments. They maintain close communication with the courts, providing regular updates on clients' progress and serving as a resource for CO-OP court staff and providers. Leveraging their personal experiences and professional training, the recovery navigators create a safe environment for clients and guide them toward becoming healthy, stable and independent.

Oklahoma County's DOC Intake Plummets: Diversion Programs Credited

The ongoing decline in the OCDC population has led to a significant decrease in the number of individuals from Oklahoma County being sent to prison at the Department of Corrections (DOC). Since 2018, the number of individuals from Oklahoma County receiving a DOC prison sentence has decreased by nearly 48%.

Collaboration Key to Sustaining Success

This reduction in prison admissions from Oklahoma County sends a clear message to the governor and Legislature that a crucial strategy for alleviating prison overcrowding is to allocate state resources to county diversion programs, as envisioned by State Question 781 (SQ 781).

In line with this, in 2023, the Legislature and governor allocated $12.5 million to counties to fulfill the objectives of SQ 781. Oklahoma County received nearly $2.5 million to enhance nine different diversion and treatment programs. The sustainability of such an expansion will depend on continued collaboration between the governor and the Legislature during the 2024 session.