Special thanks should also be given to all three Oklahoma County commissioners—Carrie Blumert, Kevin Calvey and Brian Maughan—for the courage to call the election and put this long-desired solution on the ballot. Finally, thanks should be given to all the citizens and county officials who have toiled many hours on task forces, study committees, etc. for recommending what the voters finally approved. To see full recommendations and new jail study slides, scan the QR code below or visit okcountycjac.com /post/recommendations-from-cjac-regarding-a-future- detention-facility :
shows further, MAPS 4 projects that are discussed elsewhere in this report will be opening prior to the new jail’s opening, which should increase the ability to safely reduce the jail’s population. This synergy of timing between expiring county bonds, MAPS 4 justice-related projects, steady and safe reduction of the jail population through the expansion of diversion programs, and a community ready to solve this problem on their own terms, conspired to make this long overdue victory possible. Rendering of the OK County Jail’s proposed medical and mental health treatment area. Special thanks should be given to the CJAC Facilities Subcommittee, which is co-chaired by CJAC members Sue Ann Arnall of the Arnall Family Foundation and Dan Straughan of the Homeless Alliance along with support from CJAC member Rev. Theodis Manning of TASK, Teaching and Saving Kids, and numerous other community partners, including someone with lived experience in the jail who graduated from ReMerge during the study process. Thanks should also go to all CJAC members for cultivating the atmosphere to make this victory possible.
Rendering of the OK County Jail’s proposed medium security area.
CONCLUSION
of fewer residents going to prison; MAPS 4 mental health, addiction and homelessness services coming online in the near future; and expansion of current pre-trial diversion and alternative sentencing programs. However, these preliminary indicators will only become institutionalized realities with continued collaborative hard work and effort. The Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Advisory Council and its community partners must stay the course to continue to be a conduit toward lasting change for a more fair and effective justice system in Oklahoma County.
Has Oklahoma County’s justice system finally turned the corner towards a new sustainability? The answer might be yes. The preliminary indicators are there to support the conclusion: voter approval of a new, better jail; implementation of policing measures to provide safe alternatives to arrest for those in mental health/addiction crisis; the continued trend of lower jail population; the trend
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