Oklahoma Incarceration Case Study

Oklahoma has the highest female incarceration rate in the United States. In fact, Oklahoma’s female incarceration rate is over twice the national average. These women overwhelmingly come from families and lives with a history of drug problems, alcohol problems, mental illness, poverty, divorce, physical abuse, and sexual abuse. A large majority of these women are mothers as well. Generally, the children of these mothers are negatively affected by their mothers’ imprisonment (Sharp, et al. 12-16). Also, every prisoner in Oklahoma, including those women unnecessarily incarcerated, costs an exorbitant amount in taxpayer dollars (Eaton 1). This paper will explore the effects of Oklahoma’s high female incarceration rate on the women imprisoned, …show more content…
A 2014 study by Sharp, et al, found that 85.3 percent of the incarcerated mothers participating in the study had children. Eighty percent of those mothers still had minor children, 65.6 percent of whom were still living with their children at the time of incarceration (Henceforth referred to as “Children”). At the time of the survey, only 26.4 percent of Children were residing with their other parent, and almost three-fourths were not living with a parent. 42.7 percent of the women reported that their Children were no longer living with their siblings. These factors can result in children having frequent feelings of abandonment by their parents and loved ones. The study also reports many figures about negative aspects of the Children’s lives. After their mothers’ incarceration, the number of Children with bad grades increased by 42 percent, expelled by 61 percent, trouble with friends by 102 percent, trouble with guardians by 60 percent, running away by 80 percent, alcohol abuse by 21 percent, and becoming pregnant or causing a pregnancy by 35 percent. Most alarmingly, depression and suicidal tendencies in these Children increased by 124 percent and 38 percent respectively. The number of Children dropping out of school, getting arrested, becoming incarcerated and abusing drugs remained equal, or slightly increased after their mother’s incarceration. This may …show more content…
Each woman prisoner costs taxpayers over $26,000 a year (Eaton 1). With an estimated 2,400 women prisoners, of which an estimated 1,512 were convicted of non-violent crimes, non-violent prisoners cost taxpayers over $40 million a year. For all this money spent, upon release, only 28 percent of prisoners assessed to require substance abuse treatment actually completed the treatment during their incarceration (Pitman 10). This increases their chances of returning to prison again, which will cost taxpayers even more. Also, without the skills necessary to become employed after reentry, these women contribute to lost manpower in the economy. Programs like Women in Recovery however, are much more cost-effective, and supply women with the skills they need to contribute to the economy, and subsequently raise families which will generally help ensure their own children’s success as well (Averill