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Oklahoma Report

Oklahoma

IMPRISONMENT IN OKLAHOMA

At year-end 2004, Oklahoma prisons housed 22,913 inmates serving sentences of more than one year. Of these inmates, 20,613 were male and 2,300 were female. Oklahoma ranked 1st in its 2004 female imprisonment rate with 129 female prisoners per 100,000 female residents, and 4th in its 2004 overall imprisonment rate with 649 prisoners per 100,000 residents.

In 1977, Oklahoma prisons housed 172 female inmates; by 2004, the female prison population had reached 2,300. Oklahoma's female prison population was at its lowest with 172 female prisoners in 1977 and peaked at 2,394 female inmates in 2000.

GROWTH IN FEMALE IMPRISONMENT RATE

Between 1977 and 2004, Oklahoma's female prison population grew by 1,237% with an average annual percent change of 10.7% per year.

Throughout the period from 1977 to 2004, Oklahoma's female imprisonment rate was markedly higher than the average female imprisonment rate across the states. Although Oklahoma has always been among the most punitive in terms of its imprisonment rates, both Oklahoma's overall imprisonment rate and female imprisonment rate began to grow substantially faster than average beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s. With a female imprisonment rate of 129 female prisoners per 100,000 female residents in 2004, Oklahoma is the most punitive state in its imprisonment of female offenders.

MALE TO FEMALE IMPRISONMENT RATIO

The male to female imprisonment ratio indicates the number of male inmates for every female inmate. Although both female and male imprisonment rates have increased over the period of study, a shrinking ratio suggests that the number of female prisoners has increased at a faster pace. In 1977, across the states, there were an average of 26 male prisoners for every female prisoner; by 2004, this ratio had fallen to 13 male prisoners for every female prisoner. Oklahoma's 1977 ratio was lower than average with 23 male prisoners for every female prisoner. In 2004, Oklahoma's male to female imprisonment ratio (9:1) remained notably lower than the average across states.

CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES

According to the 2000 Census of State and Federal Correctional Facilities, Oklahoma has 52 correctional facilities. Of Oklahoma's 52 correctional facilities, 40 house male prisoners only, eight house female prisoners only, and four house both male and female prisoners.