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Oklahoma Addresses Female Offender Incarceration and Recidivism |
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
RE-ENTRY CONFERENCE
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The state of Oklahoma is a great place to live and work In fact, in April of 2008, the state’s capitol ~Oklahoma City ~was identified by Forbes magazine as one of America’s top ten magazine as one of America’s top ten “Recession-Proof Cities,” because of its strong housing market and solid growth in agriculture, energy, and manufacturing. Oklahoma also tops another list-first in the nation in female incarceration, incarcerating 131 women per 100,000 population compared to the national average of 69. As of December 31, 2008, the Oklahoma Department of Corrections was responsible for the care and custody of 25, 162 offenders with incarcerated women accounting for approximately 11% of this population. The top five controlling offense categories for female offenders as of December 31, 2008, included: * Possession/Obtaining a controlled Dangerous
Substance (21.84%) Critical Issues for female offenders include history of trauma and violence; history of substance abuse and addiction; economic marginalization and poverty; race and ethnicity’; women offenders as mothers; mental health and medical needs;, and relationship issues. Of the 1,,401 female offenders received by the Oklahoma Dept. of Corrections during Fiscal Year 2008, 64 percent were assessed and identified with a moderate to high need for substance abuse treatment, with a current incarcerated assessed need of fifty five per cent. According to a briefing paper issued in December 2006 by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, women in Oklahoma rank in the bottom third for: employment and earnings, participation in the labor force, completion of higher education, percentage of women-owned businesses, percentage living above the poverty line and percentage having health insurance. Sixty-eight percent in 2008 had a need for education. Women also enter the Oklahoma system with mental health issues with 65% having a history of or are currently being treated for mental illness. Medical issues such as hypertension, asthma, diabetes, seizure disorders, endocrine disorders, pulmonary disorders, cancer and cardiovascular problems are also a primary concern. In January 2004, it was reported that ‘incarceration of a female typically has more substantial destructive impact on families that male incarceration.” The new division led by Deputy Director Laura J. Pittman, Ph.D. is responsible for the oversight of female offenders from reception through reentry and is charged with developing strategies for reducing Oklahoma’s female incarceration and recidivism rate through effective preparation of female offenders for successful reentry into society In an effort to achieve these goals, the division will be advocating for prevention and intervention prior to incarceration as well as diversionary efforts; implementing more gender responsive and refined assessment of classification, specialize training for staff working with female offenders, support and enhance effective programming and researching and acquiring additional support and resources for successful reentry. Oklahoma is very interested in learning more about evidence based practices related to the recidivism of female offenders in other states. Please share your state’s best practices by contacting: Laura J. Pittman, PhD, Deputy Director, Division of Female Offender Operations—laura.pittman@doc.state.ok.us
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