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Oklahoma County officials and criminal justice leaders laid out competing visions for the county’s detention system at the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber’s October forum, with a looming Nov. 3 vote sharpening the stakes. The discussion framed the referendum not only as a construction decision but as a test of whether the county will invest in alternatives to incarceration and wider mental health care.
The panel included Oklahoma County District Attorney Vicki Behenna, Perrin Duncan of the Arnall Family Foundation and Oklahoma Secretary of Public Safety Tricia Everest, and was moderated by Tony Tyler. Speakers described day-to-day problems inside the existing 1991, 13-story jail and outlined plans for a replacement detention campus intended to change how people enter and move through the justice system.
Why the building matters now
Panelists argued that the current jail’s layout and age create operational delays that ripple across the county’s public safety functions. Booking and intra-facility transfers can take hours, removing officers from patrol and clogging court and medical intake processes.
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Behenna said those inefficiencies have a measurable impact on policing and court calendars, while Everest pointed to practical problems — unreliable elevators and logistical hurdles moving food, medication and people through a vertical facility designed before today’s needs.
They said a modern, ground-level campus with dedicated assessment and booking areas could streamline intake, shorten hold times and speed access to care for people with medical or behavioral health needs.
Diverting people from jail — and why it matters
Speakers pushed repeatedly on the idea that a new facility should pair beds with services. Perrin Duncan highlighted a decade-long downward trend in the county jail population and urged expanding noncustodial responses where appropriate.
That approach would rely on stronger use of diversion programs, reminders to reduce missed court appearances, and policies that take indigence into account when assessing fines or fees. Duncan said the proposed site includes a planned behavioral care center aimed at directing people with mental health needs into treatment rather than jail.
Behenna stressed that structured alternatives — drug and treatment courts, supervised programs — are not easy outs. They require participants to meet strict conditions on sobriety, employment and housing while remaining subject to legal accountability.
- What voters will decide: A proposed 0.40% sales tax for 25 years to fund construction and operations of a detention campus and related services.
- Timeline: Behavioral care components expected to begin operations around 2027 according to panel projections.
- Core goals cited: Reduce booking delays, expand mental health and diversion services, and ensure capacity for individuals who pose public-safety risks.
- Risks noted: Rising construction costs, the danger of building a larger jail without strengthening community-based alternatives, and the need for ongoing operational funding.
The panel agreed that the county’s choices will have long-term effects—financial and human. “Whether we pay now for a planned system or continue funding an inefficient, aging facility, costs persist,” Duncan said, framing the tax as a question of where money will be spent.
| Proposal element | Expected benefit | Projected timing |
|---|---|---|
| New detention campus | Faster booking, improved security, reduced officer downtime | Design and construction over several years |
| Behavioral care center | Direct treatment and diversion for people with mental health needs | Planned opening around 2027 |
| Expanded diversion services | Lower jail population, better outcomes for defendants | Incremental, ongoing |
Sizing the solution—and measuring success
Panelists diverged on how large the new facility should be. Duncan urged planners to prioritize programs that reduce incarceration and to avoid building excess capacity that encourages unnecessary detention. Behenna countered that any new campus must be sized to accommodate projected population growth and those who pose a public-safety threat.
Both called for clear accountability: transparent reporting, measurable performance data and continued community engagement to evaluate whether the investment reduces recidivism, shortens pretrial stays and improves access to care.
As panelists wrapped up, they returned to the practical reality facing voters: the county faces unavoidable costs tied to its detention system, and the choice on Nov. 3 is about directing how those costs are paid and what trade-offs the community will accept. Everest urged collaboration, noting that improving outcomes will require coordination across courts, law enforcement, health providers and community organizations.
The vote will determine whether Oklahoma County moves forward with a fund-and-build model that couples infrastructure with services, or continues operating the existing, costly facility while seeking incremental fixes.
