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In The Know is a daily synopsis of Oklahoma policy-related news and blogs. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail.
Today you should know that new corrections and public safety reforms are scheduled to take effect in one month, but key components – including mental health assessments before sentencing and substance abuse treatment – before release aren’t fully funded and could create bottlenecks in a criminal justice system already at capacity. OK Policy previously warned that inadequate funding for these goals could hamper the reforms. The Board of Juvenile Affairs discussed the need for additional higher-security beds and staff raises to reduce turnover.
The Norman Transcript reported on the debate over State Question 762, which would remove the governor from the parole process for less serious, non-violent crimes. The Tulsa World reported on the winners and losers if two state questions to change the property tax pass. Find more on all of the state questions at our 2012 State Questions page.
More than 300 public school district superintendents have resigned since 2006, and another 218 have retired or been fired. Governor Fallin was challenged at a town hall over the state’s lack of support for education. The okeducationtruths blog discussed problems with “parent triggers” to wrest control of schools away from the district.
Interim DHS Director Doerflinger discussed changes confronting the agency. About 22 percent of Oklahoma medical doctors received their professional training in foreign countries. Even as enrollment grows at their four-year counterparts, many community colleges in Oklahoma are seeing their enrollments decline.
The Tulsa City County Health Department is leading an initiative to women better access to long-acting contraceptives. A report by Families USA shows that more Oklahomans would live without health insurance and those who have coverage would pay more for it under the health-care policies advocated by presidential candidate Mitt Romney. Low pay and failed drug tests is creating a shortage of health care workers for Oklahoma soldiers.
The Number of the Day is Oklahoma’s rank nationally for the number of children in the foster care system per capita. In today’s Policy Note, Mother Jones reports on aging of the inmate population that is shaping up to be a crisis with moral, practical, and economic implications for cash-strapped governments.
In The News
Some new corrections reforms lack funding, could create bottlenecks
New corrections and public safety reforms are scheduled to take effect in one month, but some key components lack funding and may not be ready by Nov. 1. As part of the Justice Reinvestment Initiative signed into law earlier this year, the state will increase supervision of felons released from prison, require mental health assessments for people facing felony convictions and add alternative punishment options for those who violate certain terms of probation. It’s all part of a focus in recent years to contain Oklahoma’s rising cost of corrections. The state ranks No. 1 for incarceration of women per capita and among the highest nationally for men. But some officials are concerned that provisions of the new law – including mental health assessments before sentencing and substance abuse treatment before release – aren’t fully funded and could create bottlenecks in a criminal justice system already at capacity.
Read more from the Tulsa World.
Previously: Reforming Criminal Justice: What the latest bill does and what stands in the way from the OK Policy Blog
Higher-security beds for Oklahoma’s juvenile offenders discussed
After closing the L.E. Rader Center in Sand Springs a year ago, the Board of Juvenile Affairs on Thursday discussed the need for additional higher-security beds. The L.E. Rader Center in Sand Springs was the only one of the state’s three juvenile centers that had secure beds. The Board of Juvenile Affairs at a special board meeting Thursday declined to ask for a supplemental appropriation to fund the construction of two, 16-bed special population units at the remaining two facilities in Manitou and Tecumseh. The cost was $6 million. But the board left the option open for a possible new facility or building additional beds at existing centers in its fiscal year 2014 budget request. M. Keith Wilson, OJA executive director, said part of the problem is the agency’s inability to retain staff members at the two centers. Wilson said that while he believes there is a need for a new facility, he has concerns about whether the Legislature or the governor would agree to pay for it.
Read more from the Tulsa World.
SQ 762 calls for reforms to pardon and parole process
Proponents of State Question 762 say it will save the state millions of dollars. Opponents say it will open the gates for those prisoners who need to serve their time. State Question 762 modifies the power and authority of the governor and Pardon and Parole Board in the parole process for nonviolent offenders by removing the governor from the process. “Letting the governor focus on parole recommendations for violent crimes is a critical component of Oklahoma’s recent progress to build a stronger, more effective criminal justice system,” said House Speaker Kris Steele, R-Shawnee. “Approving this measure will generate tens of millions of dollars in savings that can be reinvested in initiatives that truly reduce and prevent crime. A vote for SQ 762 is a vote for a safer Oklahoma.” The 2007 audit of the Department of Corrections found that removing the governor from the parole process for nonviolent offenders would save up to $40 million over the course of a decade because of the increased efficiencies and quicker processing of paroles.
Read more from the Norman Transcript.
Oklahoma voters to decide on two property tax measures
Backers of two complex state questions going before voters Nov. 6 say the efforts will bring more equity to the state’s property tax system, but opponents say they will shift the tax burden and short schools and local governments of needed money. State Question 758 would cap property tax assessment increases for owner-occupied homes and farm land at 3 percent per year. The current cap on assessment increases on all property is 5 percent. Rep. David Dank, R-Oklahoma City, said the proposal is designed to help restrain the constant growth in property tax bills, which are especially difficult for senior citizens and people on fixed incomes. But Tulsa County Assessor Ken Yazel says restricting increases in property values will result in an inequitable shift of the burden of fixed expenses that are funded with property taxes, including local school bond payments. The winners are people whose home values are rising quickly, and the losers are people whose home values are not, he said.
Read more from the Tulsa World.
More than 300 public school superintendents have resigned since 2006
More than 300 public school district superintendents have resigned since 2006, state Education Department records show. Another 218 have retired or been fired during that same time. Records show that smaller districts have been particularly hard hit by these exiting administrators. Between 2006 and 2011, state Education Department records show that 312 district superintendents resigned from their jobs. So far this year, five have resigned, although the bulk of the resignations typically come later in the school year. 2008 was peak year The peak came in 2008, when 75 left via resignation. Only 35 resigned in 2006.
Fallin faces feisty crowd at Tulsa town hall
Gov. Mary Fallin might have gotten a little more direct democracy when she came to Tulsa last week than she was bargaining for. Fallin held a “town hall” meeting on the campus of Oklahoma State University-Tulsa on Wednesday. Fallin brought practically her entire Cabinet and filled much of the allotted time with the rollout of the plan to increase the number of science, technology, engineering, math and health students coming out of Oklahoma schools. It was interesting, but, as it turned out, it wasn’t what was on the mind of the town. Her science-technology-engineering-math-health program wasn’t satisfying to those who had come to the town hall intent on getting a commitment for more money for schools.
Read more from the Tulsa World.
The wonderful thing about triggers
So it comes to this. With today’s ballyhooed release of the blockbuster* motion picture “Won’t Back Down,” every education-reformer-who-never-taught-a-day-in-their-life is advocating the Parent Trigger. If you haven’t spent a lot of time considering the issue, I urge you to consider the viewpoint of an Oklahoma State Senator and our State Superintendent. On the national level, Diane Ravitch has written pervasively on the topic. The gist is that parents of a failing school have a right to demand change, and if 51 percent (or 50 percent plus one, which is how democratic voting really works) of parents sign a petition saying that they’ve had enough, those parents can wrest control of the school away from the school district and seek private or charter options. I have several problems with this. So yes, here’s another list.
Read more from okeducationtruths.
Interim director Doerflinger comments on DHS changes
Preston Doerflinger by all accounts is the type to hit the ground running. But even he probably didn’t expect to start off with marathons. Or, as he puts it, this is what life as interim director of the Department of Human Services is like: “It’s like taking a drink out of a fire hydrant. … “It’s like getting punched in the gut and having your lunch money stolen – every five minutes.” Until recently a little-known businessman, the new temporary DHS chief in a recent visit with the World editorial board reflected on his experiences since taking on new roles in state government, and offered some useful insight for voters.
Read more from the Tulsa World.
22 percent of Oklahoma doctors trained in foreign countries
About 22 percent of the medical doctors licensed in Oklahoma received their professional training outside of the United States. Whether this is good news or bad depends on where the doctors were born, at least according to a study released by a foundation that advocates for foreign-trained medical professionals. The study, released by the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research in late 2010, found that foreign-trained doctors are just as capable as their U.S.-trained counterparts. But the study also draws attention to U.S.-born citizens who leave the country to earn medical degrees abroad, suggesting that such doctors may provide inferior care to their patients. In Oklahoma, there are 2,199 licensed medical doctors who received their medical training outside of the country, or 21.8 percent of all licensees. Nationally, that figure is closer to 25 percent, the foundation’s study shows.
Community college enrollments drop in Oklahoma, nationwide
Even as enrollment grows at their four-year counterparts, many community colleges in Oklahoma are seeing their projected enrollments decline. Enrollment numbers won’t be finalized until later this month, but most community colleges throughout Oklahoma are projecting flat or dropping enrollment for the fall 2012 semester. After several years of booming growth, officials say the change is more of a correction than an outright decline. The picture at community colleges stands in stark contrast to that of Oklahoma’s public four-year colleges and universities, where enrollment is expected to continue growing. The enrollment dip at the state’s two-year institutions comes after several years of steady enrollment growth. Officials say the decline could have been caused by a number of factors, including federal financial aid changes and even the economic recovery.
Initiative helps women pay for birth control
After an Oklahoma teenager gives birth, at least 22 percent will have another child within two years. This statistic was released in 2008, just as the teen birth rate started increasing. It has remained steady, according to Community Service Council associate director Jan Figart. Community concerns grew that the time between births was an indicator of risk to the mother and child. And it was contributing to several indicators for poor health and poverty. In response, the Taking Control Initiative was launched in February 2010 to give women the option and access to long-acting reversible contraceptives in their family planning. With the Tulsa City County Health Department as a lead agency, the initiative is a collaboration among 100 nonprofit, medical, philanthropic and government agencies, along with funding from the George Kaiser Family Foundation. Since its founding, the initiative has funded 1,653 contraceptive devices and helped about 4,600 women access the contraception through other available funding sources.
Read more from the Tulsa World.
Many Oklahomans would lose health coverage under Romney plan
More Oklahomans would live without health insurance and those who have coverage would pay more for it under the health-care policies advocated by presidential candidate Mitt Romney than is likely under the Affordable Care Act, a report from a national advocacy group shows. The results and methods of the report from Families USA are sharply disputed by Romney supporters. The report shows that under plans advocated by Romney: 520,000 more Oklahomans younger than 65 would not have health coverage in 2016. 610,000 more Oklahomans younger than 65 would not have health coverage in 2020. 180,000 fewer middle class Oklahomans would receive government tax subsidies to assist in buying health insurance, and the average subsidy would be $784 less in 2016. The average out-of-pocket cost of health care for an Oklahoma family would be $6,305 higher.
Read more from the Tulsa World.
Low pay, failed drug tests lead to shortage of health care workers for Oklahoma soldiers
With so many soldiers back home, taking care of their health needs is a big issue. Recent reports accuse the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs of abuse and neglect. Thursday a panel of lawmakers called the administrators from every V.A. across the state to the capitol. The administrators say the main issue is filling positions with good qualified people. Ardmore Administrator Regeana McCracken says the Certified Nursing Assistant’s only make $11 per hour. Many of the workers are right out of high school. She said they currently have the funds to fill nine vacancies but cannot find applicants for those positions. Davenport says, “In the first quarter of this year, we hired 57 employees. We only retained about 15 of those employees.”
Quote of the Day
It’s like getting punched in the gut and having your lunch money stolen – every five minutes.
–Preston Doerflinger, on what life is like as interim director of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services
Number of the Day
2nd
Oklahoma’s rank nationally for the number of children in the foster care system per capita, 2004-2006
Source: Russell Sage Foundation
See previous Numbers of the Day here.
Policy Note
The other death sentence
William “Lefty” Gilday had been in prison 40 years when the dementia began to set in. At 82, he was already suffering from advanced Parkinson’s disease and a host of other ailments, and his friends at MCI Shirley, a medium security prison in Massachusetts, tried to take care of him as best they could. Most of them were aging lifers like Lefty, facing the prospect of one day dying behind bars themselves, so they formed an ad hoc hospice team in their crowded ward. … But Lefty, who was serving life without parole for killing a police officer during a failed bank heist in 1970, slipped ever deeper into dementia. One day he threw an empty milk carton at a guard and was placed in a “medical bubble,” a kind of solitary confinement unit with a glass window that enables health care staffers to keep an eye on the prisoner. His friends were denied entrance, but Joe managed to slip in one day. He recalls an overpowering stench of piss and shit and a stack of unopened food containers—Lefty explained that he couldn’t open the tabs. Joe also noticed that the nurses in the adjoining observation room had blocked the glass with manila folders so they wouldn’t have to look at the old man. … Lefty Gilday was no ordinary inmate, but in one regard he typified a growing segment of America’s inmate population—geriatric prisoners. The United States leads the world in incarceration, with more than 2.2 million people in its prisons and jails, and the graying of this population is shaping up to be a crisis with moral, practical, and economic implications for cash-strapped governments.
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