Topic: Justice System

No Exit: The School-to-Prison pipeline (Neglected Oklahoma)

By: Camille Landry
August 27, 2014 // Updated: May 2, 2019
Camille Landry is a writer, activist, and social justice advocate who lives in Oklahoma City.  This post is part of our “Neglected Oklahoma” series, which tells the stories of Oklahomans in situations where the basic necessities of life are hard… Read more [More...]

Upcoming Event: Policy & Practice lecture series discusses mental illness and prison

By: Carly Putnam
August 7, 2014 // Updated: May 2, 2019
On August 26th, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) will host Mr. Harry Dlugacz, MSW, JD, for his lecture, “The Offender with Mental Disabilities: Critical Issues in Correctional Mental Health and Planning for Successful Reentry” as part of its… Read more [More...]

What lawmakers didn’t do to end the crisis in our prisons

By: Gene Perry
June 17, 2014 // Updated: May 2, 2019
For years, observers have warned of an emerging crisis in Oklahoma’s criminal justice system. With state prisons and county jails packed full and staffing levels falling to the worst in the whole nation, Oklahoma has put the safety of both… Read more [More...]

Does the death penalty cost more than it’s worth? (Guest Post: Matt Simmons)

By: Matt Simmons
May 27, 2014 // Updated: May 2, 2019
Matt Simmons is a former OK Policy intern. He recently completed his MA in American history at the University of Tulsa, and he is currently pursuing a PhD in history at the University of Florida. He can be found on… Read more [More...]

Prescription Drug Abuse in Oklahoma

By: Carly Putnam
March 13, 2014 // Updated: May 2, 2019
Prescription drug abuse is a public health crisis in Oklahoma, contributing to over eight hundred deaths in 2012. In our new fact sheet on the topic, we provide a quick overview of the issue, dispel a few myths, and suggest… Read more [More...]

While nearby states decriminalize, Oklahoma’s marijuana laws are among harshest in the nation

By: Haley Stritzel
February 18, 2014 // Updated: May 2, 2019
This post is by OK Policy intern Haley Stritzel. Haley is a University of Tulsa student pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Women’s and Gender Studies. This session, Senator Connie Johnson has introduced Senate Bill 2166, which would… Read more [More...]

Graph of the Day: Corrections staffing way down while inmate population rises

By: David Blatt
January 14, 2014 // Updated: May 2, 2019
Today’s Graph of the Day shows that the number of correctional officers staffing Oklahoma prisons has fallen by 24.5 percent since 2000 and by 20 percent just in the past five years, while the number of inmates continues to rise.  … Read more [More...]

Upcoming Event: Invisible Eve at Tulsa’s 108 Contemporary

By: David Blatt
October 31, 2013 // Updated: May 2, 2019
On Friday, November 1st, Tulsa’s 108 Contemporary, located at 108 East Brady Street, will premiere an exhibition of portraits by Yousef Khanfar from his book “Invisible Eve: Incarcerated Women of Oklahoma”. An opening reception for the event will take place… Read more [More...]

Department of Corrections audit won’t fix Oklahoma’s incarceration woes (Guest Post: Adam Banner)

By: Guest
October 3, 2013 // Updated: May 2, 2019
handcuffs Adam R. Banner is founder of the Oklahoma Legal Group and a criminal defense attorney in Oklahoma City. Governor Mary Fallin recently requested an audit of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections (DOC). I fully support a careful examination of issues… Read more [More...]

Punishments & Profits: The private prison money trail

By: Matt Simmons
September 3, 2013 // Updated: May 2, 2019
This post was written by former OK Policy intern Matt Simmons. Matt recently completed his MA in American history at the University of Tulsa, and he is currently pursuing a PhD in history at the University of Florida. He can… Read more [More...]