OKLAHOMA COUNTY, Okla. (KFOR) – A group is raising concerns about COVID relief funds allocated to a behavioral health center adjacent to the new county jail.
“It’s always been thought that the mental health facility would be better served,” County Commissioner Brian Morgan said, “if the mental health facility and the jail facility were next door to each other and functioned in full coordination.”
“The reality is Oklahoma County has had a need for proactive, preventative mental health care in our communities for decades,” said Sarah Bana, counsel for People for Justice Reform.
The battle over plans for a new Oklahoma County jail continues. On Friday morning, at the proposed site of the new jail in southeast Oklahoma City, People’s Advocates for Justice Reform expressed concerns about $50 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds earmarked for a behavioral health center next to the jail.
“They need to donate the remaining $40 or $50 million in the ARPA fund to help the community,” said Mark Falk, counsel for People for Justice Reform.
The group said they would like to see the money used to fund local mental health facilities and infrastructure. Morgan said that’s possible, but without that money and prison costs that have more than doubled, he doesn’t believe they’ll be able to build a mental health facility anytime soon.
“If we can resolve this land issue, we can first proceed and secure the building and the mental health facility,” he said.
A prison design firm believes building a new mental health facility next to the prison could be a game changer, but not everyone agrees.
“They are actually diverted and placed in a non-custodial setting at a behavioral treatment center where they can receive treatment sessions ranging from three days to a month, as determined by the doctor who is treating the patient,” said Jeff Bradley of design and construction firm HOK.
“It’s important that we prioritize humane and fair solutions over expanding our prison system,” said Sen. Connie Johnson, a Democrat from Oklahoma City.
The meeting is scheduled for Monday. The topic is among the items KFOR plans to discuss. Morgan said he hopes action can be taken as soon as Monday.
