Out of 25,000 inmates, the Oklahoma Department of Corrections estimates that nearly 12,000 have a history of –or are currently exhibiting– symptoms of severe mental illness. There are 79% of female inmates and 46% of male inmates who have been diagnosed with a mental illness. Of these individuals, 57% were incarcerated for non-violent offenses. Out of all inmates in DOC custody, 33% were imprisoned for drug and alcohol offenses and at least 50% were incarcerated for a crime related to substance abuse.

Putting people with mental illness or addiction behind bars is not effective in either reducing crime or helping these individuals recover from their illness. The fact is that treatment works. Non-violent offenders would be better served, economically and medically, with treatment in their communities.

The average cost to maintain an inmate in prison is $48 per day. For someone on a prison mental health unit, the cost jumps to approximately $175 per day. Providing appropriate mental health services to someone in the community to keep them from entering the criminal justice system costs approximately $25/day; and, providing appropriate substance abuse services to someone in the community to keep them from entering the criminal justice system costs less than $15/day.

Oklahoma's network of drug and mental health court programs serve to divert non-violent, eligible offenders from prison to structured, court-supervised substance abuse and mental health treatment. A smart investment, Oklahoma's drug and mental health courts are saving money and saving lives.

Click on the links below for more information.

      Adult Drug Courts                      Mental Health Courts                    Juvenile Drug Courts

    Veteran's Drug Courts                   Family Drug Courts                    National Drug Court Month

For more information please contact the ODMHSAS Specialty Court Team

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Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
1200 NE 13th Street
PO Box 53277
Oklahoma City, OK  73152-3277
405-522-3908    405-522-3851 TDD    405-522-3650 Fax
Toll-Free, 24 Hours  1-800-522-9054 
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