News/Opinions

Oklahoma Watch is a nonprofit, investigative and in-depth reporting team that collaborates with other news organizations and higher education to produce journalism that makes a difference in the lives of Oklahomans. Click here to read some of their stories on female incarceration.

Capitol Beat OK: Justice Reinvestment update scheduled for Wednesday, model Tulsa program advances alternatives to incarceration

By: Patrick McGuigan

1/10/12

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Tulsa World: 15 graduate from drug diversion program Women in Recovery

By: Mike Averill

12/15/11

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Tulsa World: Women in Recovery program provides ‘chance to succeed’

By: Mike Averill

8/10/11

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Tulsa World: Oklahoma prison sentencing reform has factious history

By: Jim Campbell

02/14/11

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Oklahoman: Drug court participation continues to rise in state
By: Ginnie Graham

02/13/11

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Tulsa World: Half of women in prison there for drugs

By: Ginnie Graham

02/13/11

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Tulsa World: Meth maker turns her life around after prison release

By: Ginnie Graham

02/13/11

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Tulsa World: Tough-on-drugs stance puts more in prison

By: Ginnie Graham

02/13/11

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Oklahoman: Incarcerated women’s children may not get services they need

By: Jaclyn Cosgrove

01/31/11

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Tulsa World: Justice system examined in Oklahoma’s top-rank for female incarcerations

By: Barbara Palmer

01/30/11

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Oklahoman: Jails called biggest psychiatric treatment center

By: Ginnie Graham

01/30/11

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Tulsa World: Sunday: Oklahoma leads nation in female incarceration

By: Barbara Palmer

01/29/11

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Tulsa World: Drug, mental-health programs provide alternatives to prison

By: Ginnie Graham

01/30/11

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Oklahoman: On corrections in Oklahoma, more action needed

By: John C. Pearson

01/29/11

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Tulsa World: Alternative to incarceration helps women become mothers again

By: Mike Averill

11/04/10

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Tulsa World: Sobering success

By: Ricky Maranon

07/22/10

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Children and Families

Children of incarcerated parents are at a higher risk of drug use, poor school performance, extreme poverty and are more likely to be incarcerated during their lifetime. Also, incarcerating women who are mothers has an irreversible impact on the lives of children and families.

Communities and State

We can get a better return for our taxpayer dollars by investing in alternative programs that hold nonviolent offenders accountable and help them become productive, taxpaying members of our communities.

Future

Incarcerating nonviolent female offenders perpetuates the intergenerational cycle of incarceration, which will ultimately impact the safety of our communities.