Mental Health in Oklahoma Prisons and Jails | Interim Study, October 2024

Cole Allen // October 30, 2024 // Updated: October 30, 2024
OK Policy Articles & Research // //

OK Policy’s Criminal Justice Policy Analyst Cole Allen spoke with lawmakers about how to improve mental health treatment in Oklahoma jails. Allen spoke during an Oct. 28, 2024, interim study in the Oklahoma House. The full video of the interim study — IS-24-058, A study to examine mental health treatment in Oklahoma jails, as well as the benefits of education and recreation for inmates’ mental health (Rep. Jason Lowe) — can be viewed at the Oklahoma House website. Rep. Justin Humphrey, Chair of the Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee, presided over the session.

• Watch: via YouTube
• View: Presentation slides (PDF)
• Learn: Lawmakers must build on criminal justice reforms, not tear them down (Legislative Wrap-Up)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cole Allen // callen@okpolicy.org

Cole Allen joined OK Policy as a Policy Fellow in August 2022. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a master’s degree in International Studies as well as a bachelor’s degree in International Studies with minors in Religious Studies and Middle Eastern Studies. During college, Cole was a research assistant at the Center for U.S.-China Issues and the Center for Cyber Governance and Policy. He also interned for the U.S. Department of State Diplomat in Residence for the Central United States. Cole hopes that his work at OK Policy will help make Oklahoma a more just and equitable state for all its residents. When he is not working, Cole enjoys cooking Italian food, playing Dungeons and Dragons, and following OU athletics.