Tulsa, Oklahoma – In a significant legal development, the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services has reached a settlement in a class-action lawsuit stemming from allegations of inmates enduring lengthy waits for vital mental health treatments while detained at the Tulsa County Jail. The lawsuit argued that the delays in treatment potentially spanned months to years.
Under the terms of the settlement, the department has committed to several improvements, including the reassessment of all inmates currently awaiting treatment, an increase in staffing levels, and the expansion of available treatment beds. Furthermore, efforts will be made to study and potentially implement jail-based competency restoration programs.
The lawsuit, which was initiated in 2023, highlighted the plight of pretrial detainees declared incompetent to stand trial due to mental health issues. It accused the state’s mental health system of failing to provide timely care, thus violating the due process rights of the affected individuals. The resolution of this case comes as a relief to both the inmates awaiting treatment and their families, as well as to the victims of the alleged crimes, who have been awaiting closure.
Governor Kevin Stitt, alongside Commissioner Allie Friesen of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, heralded the settlement as a prudent measure ensuring the well-being of Oklahomans in state custody while safeguarding taxpayer funds. The agreement aims to avoid the excessive costs associated with prolonged litigation and seeks to establish a more effective mental health care system within the judicial framework.
Attorney General Gentner Drummond also praised the settlement describing it as a critical improvement for state mental health services and a victory for the criminal justice system in Oklahoma. The agreement underscores the state’s commitment to delivering justice efficiently and maintaining fiscal responsibility.
The advocacy for improvements was significantly bolstered by Tulsa County Sheriff Vic Regalado, who played a vital role in bringing these issues to light. Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler expressed his approval of the settlement, emphasizing the state agency’s past failures in managing mental health care for inmates competently and has called for a restructuring of the department.
Attorney Paul Demuro, representing the inmates, expressed optimism about the agreement but stressed the importance of effective implementation. He praised the groundwork laid by the settlement and the positive signals it sends for future reforms in the state’s handling of mentally incompetent inmates.
The proactive stance taken by all parties involved has been seen as a blueprint for handling similar issues nationwide, with a focus on both improving mental health services and optimizing judicial processes. The settlement is now pending legislative approval, which if passed, will formally set these changes into motion.
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