Pubdate: Thu, 10 Jul 2003
Source: Oklahoman, The (OK)
Copyright: 2003 The Oklahoma Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.oklahoman.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/318
Author: Jack Money

STATE'S HIGH RATE OF WOMEN INMATES FOCUS OF STUDY

Oklahoma has more women in prison per capita than any other state.

A special task force trying to find out why met for the first time 
Wednesday at the state Capitol.

Members of the task force, which was created by the Legislature, elected 
Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin as chairwoman and Sen. Dick Wilkerson, D-Atwood, as 
vice chairman.

Members heard from the Oklahoma Criminal Justice Resource Center about why 
so many Oklahomans are incarcerated.

They reviewed a report by the Oklahoma Sentencing Commission which 
concluded that people charged with drug- and alcohol-related crimes 
accounted for nearly half of Oklahoma's criminal convictions in fiscal year 
1999.

Possession of a controlled dangerous substance ranked first, while 
possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute 
ranked second. Driving under the influence ranked third, according to the 
report.

Wilkerson said fraud was the fourth most common conviction and burglaries 
were fifth.

Wilkerson said the state could treat many of those offenders rather than 
send them to prison.

"We all bring our own political biases," Wilkerson said, "but I believe we 
can do a better job and not spend as much money.

"People who make the argument that locking up all these people is 
responsible for lowering our crime rates are not looking at the statistics."

The group asked for additional information Wednesday, including what 
percentage of women in Oklahoma are incarcerated because of a crime they 
committed with someone else, such as their husbands.

Wilkerson said the state already knows 60 percent of women inmates have 
mental illnesses.

The task force also is interested in how much costs have risen for the 
state to imprison women and what alternatives might be available.

The group will make recommendations to the Senate president pro tempore and 
the speaker of the House when its work concludes in February.

Besides politicians, the task force includes members from the state's 
correctional, mental and human services agencies. Fallin said she believes 
the group is capable of doing good work.

"We will look at all the facts, figures and information available," Fallin 
said.

Fallin said the group will examine how drug courts might play a role in 
reducing the number of women in prison.

The task force will meet again in three weeks at the Capitol.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens