Pubdate: Fri, 07 Jan 2005 Source: Muskogee Daily Phoenix (OK) Copyright: C2005 Muskogee Daily Phoenix Contact: http://www.muskogeephoenix.com/customerservice/contactus.html Website: http://www.muskogeephoenix.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3319 Author: Elizabeth Ridenour, Phoenix Staff Writer OKLAHOMA LOSES SPOT AS TOPS IN LOCKING UP FEMALES Although a nationwide report shows the number of women in prisons increasing, the number in Oklahoma is down. "Actually, we went from being No. 1 for our incarceration rate to No. 2 in the country, according to the latest (U.S.) Bureau of Justice report," said Jerry Massie, Oklahoma Department of Corrections public information officer. The statistics provided by the U.S. Bureau of Justice for 2003 show Oklahoma incarcerates 127 women per 100,000 residents compared to the No. 1 state for incarceration, Mississippi, which houses 134 women per 100,000 residents. "The majority of offenders are incarcerated for drug-related offenses," said Cheryl Bryan, warden's assistant at Eddie Warrior Correctional Center, a women's facility in Taft, about 10 miles west of Muskogee. The statistics also show that overall, Oklahoma is No. 4 nationwide overall (total of men and women) with 636 inmates per 100,000 population. Only Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas have higher rates, according to Bureau of Justice statistics. As of the end of December, Eddie Warrior Correctional Center, a minimum security facility, had 688 female inmates. "We can hold up to 783. We have 105 empty beds, but that changes every day," Bryan said. The cost to house each inmate is $38.38 per inmate per day, which comes to just more than $14,000 per year, Massie said. The entire Oklahoma prison system houses 2,300, he said. "That's about 10 percent of our population. It's stayed pretty steady the last several years," Massie said. Inmates at Eddie Warrior don't just sit around. Because the majority of them are imprisoned for drug-related offenses, the facility has several programs designed to help inmates with substance abuse problems. "We have Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous. Both of them are the standardized 12-step programs," Bryan said. In addition to those programs, Eddie Warrior offers Thinking for a Change, a program that stresses the importance of making rational decisions, considering choices and consequences, problem solving and social skills. Alcoholics/Narcotics Victorious also is a 12-step chemical dependency program that incorporates Bible-based materials. New Life Behavior is a program that also addresses rational decision-making skills, problem solving, healthy relationships and living and social skills. The Inside/Out program provides inmates with information about the use of a variety of harmful substances and the impact the use of those substances could have on them, their families and society. More intensive is the Regimented Treatment Program, a 12-month military-style program that helps inmates address addiction and family violence issues. - ------------- Eddie Warrior Inmates' Breakdown By Current Age Under 18 18 - 20 21 - 25 26 - 30 31 - 35 36 - 40 41 - 45 46 - 50 51 - 55 56 - - 60 61 - 65 Over 65 0 10 101 124 131 122 114 67 11 5 2 1 By Percentage 0 1.45 14.68 18.02 19.04 17.73 16.57 9.74 1.60 0.73 0.29 0.15 Average age 35.08 Eddie Warrior Correctional Center Statistics Total number of female inmates: 688 White -- Hispanic -- Black -- Indian -- Asian 440 22 162 63 1 By Percentage White -- Hispanic -- Black -- Indian -- Asian 63.95 3.20 23.55 9.16 0.15 Breakdown By Crime Category Offense -- Category -- Number -- Percent Burglary I 4 .58 Burglary II 12 1.74 Larceny 61 8.87 Bogus check, card 20 2.91 Forgery 54 1.74 Fraud 12 1.74 Embezzlement 7 1.02 Unauthorized use of a motor vehicle 5 .73 Driving under the influence 24 3.49 Possession or obtaining drugs 165 23.98 Distribution of drugs 156 22.67 Escape 6 .87 Miscellaneous non-violent 38 5.52 Murder I 1 .15 Murder II 7 1.02 Manslaughter 8 1.16 Kidnapping 2 .29 Rape 4 .58 Robbery 22 3.2 Assault 24 3.49 Sex (other than rape) 22 3.2 Arson 9 1.31 Weapons 11 1.60 Miscellaneous violent 13 1.89 Invalid Offense code 1 .15 TOTAL 688 Total violent 121 Total non-violent 567 Source: Eddie Warrior Correctional Center, Taft For more information about the U.S. Bureau of Justice statistics: www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/ For more information about Oklahoma correctional facilities: www.doc.state.ok.us - --- MAP posted-by: Beth