By:
Jill Mencke
April 15, 2026 // Updated: April 20, 2026
Correction, 4/20/2026: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated the status of HB 1979, which unanimously passed the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on April 20, 2026.
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At the midpoint of Oklahoma’s current legislative session,…
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By:
Cole Allen
April 9, 2026 // Updated: April 9, 2026
Oklahomans are eager for bold justice reforms that guarantee fairness and safety for everyone; they don’t want to regress back towards a system that unfairly punishes poverty and prioritizes incarceration over all else. Lawmakers still have the second half of…
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By:
Jill Mencke
March 25, 2026 // Updated: March 25, 2026
Oklahoma’s youth justice system is tasked with ensuring youth who cause harm face fair consequences, but is also responsible for protecting children and promoting long-term public safety. One of the most effective ways to do both is by setting a…
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By:
Jill Mencke
October 28, 2025 // Updated: October 28, 2025
Reimagining Youth Justice in Oklahoma provides an overview of Oklahoma’s youth justice system by detailing the environment that youth in Oklahoma face, synthesizing data and reporting findings on the state of the youth justice system today, and offering recommendations for…
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Shuttered private prisons in Oklahoma are being considered to re-open as immigration detention centers. The primary purpose for companies that operate these private prisons is maximizing shareholder value, not making our communities safe.
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A new report shows how Oklahoma voters’ decision to prioritize rehabilitation over incarceration has resulted in a dramatic drop in crime, a 47 percent reduction in prison sentences, and the largest local mental health and substance abuse investment in state…
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This article was co-authored by Gabriela Ramirez-Perez, Immigration Policy Analyst and Polina Rozhkova, Data Analyst.
In the current administration, more and more immigrants are being funneled to detention centers or being held in other forms of federal Immigration and Customs…
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Oklahoma City's new Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH) program represents a meaningful step toward the justice reform envisioned by Oklahoma voters nearly a decade ago. But expanding similar services beyond metro areas requires sustained commitment and investment from the state.
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By:
Jill Mencke
June 22, 2025 // Updated: June 23, 2025
Oklahoma lawmakers passed new legislation this year to help protect and support children, especially those in foster care, the legal system, and with special needs. While these changes aim to keep kids safe, support families, and improve access to state…
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By:
Jill Mencke
April 16, 2025 // Updated: April 16, 2025
Oklahoma has an obligation to care for vulnerable youth in our legal and foster systems. This session, Oklahoma legislators have the chance to build upon recent progress to make benefits more accessible and enshrine protections for vulnerable youth in the…
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