Over 10,000 people per year return to Oklahoma communities after periods of incarceration.
In other states, policymakers have understood and invested in comprehensive re-entry networks to provide services and job-matching for those folks leaving prison. Re-entry networks and services are key to preventing recidivism and improving outcomes for people returning to society. But Oklahoma has been a top incarcerator in the world from the early 2000's through 2018. We invited Colleen McCarty back to discuss the data and research surrounding this complex issue in Oklahoma.
But more important than any data, this episode features the real stories of Oklahoman's for Criminal Justice Reform's ambassadors. They detail what re-entry truly looked like, where they are today, and where Oklahoma desperately needs change. A special thank you to Damita Price, Zeke Gonzales, Gina Richie, and Derwin Romani for sharing their stories with us.