Commission visits TEEM on female incarceration

Oklahoma’s female incarceration rate continues to be the highest in the U.S. Two changes that could help lower it are to “listen” and “pause” before sending mothers to prison for non-violent offenses.

The Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women heard from several women in The Education and Employment Ministry (TEEM) re-entry program about policies that could help.

One mother stated that if someone had stopped and listened, her path could’ve been redirected to a positive outcome. Another woman asked for the state to pause and consider alternative solutions before splitting up families.

A holistic view would benefit Oklahoma.

– Brenda Jones Barwick, APR, Jones PR