Do Oklahomans want a better mental health system?

If Oklahomans truly want a better mental health system — one that diverts people with brain diseases away from the criminal justice system — they will support the criminal justice reform measures, SQ 780 and SQ 781, a state health leader said Wednesday.

Although he would not offer a direct endorsement, State Health Commissioner Terry Cline said in an interview Wednesday that although there are some legitimate questions around implementing SQ 780 and SQ 781, it's the right direction for Oklahoma.

Plus, they're a good "litmus test" for how the public feels about criminal justice reform, he said.

In the past decade, the number of Oklahomans with mental illnesses and substance use disorders ending up in county jails and state prisons has continued to grow. Currently, 60 percent of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections' population — almost 17,000 people — either has a history of or current symptoms of mental illness.

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