Oklahoma Department of Corrections announces major progress in reducing inmate violence

Oklahoma Department of Corrections announces major progress in reducing inmate violence

(October 25th) Today, the Oklahoma Department of Corrections announced a significant reduction in inmate-on-inmate assaults with serious injury, reflecting the success of ongoing efforts to enhance safety and security. Key reforms, including strategic population management, stricter enforcement policies, and enhanced technology, have significantly decreased the incidence of violence.

Between fiscal years 2023 and 2024, ODOC implemented several initiatives leading to impressive reductions, including:

• A 15% decrease in incidents in October 2023;
• A 21% reduction in November 2023;
• An impressive 45% drop in March 2024;
• A remarkable 52% decrease in May 2024;
• Resulting in an overall decrease of 14%.

Building on this momentum, the positive trend has continued into FY25:

• July saw a 12% reduction in incidents;
• August witnessed a 38% decline over FY23 and a 24% improvement over FY22’s numbers;
• September recorded a 30% improvement;
• Culminating in a 28% reduction for the first quarter of the fiscal year.

“We are proud of the significant strides we’ve made in enhancing safety across our facilities,” said Steven Harpe, ODOC executive director. “These results reflect our team’s commitment to excellence, strategic population management practices, and enforcing stricter sanctions under our updated Class X misconduct policy. Together, these efforts have fostered safer environments for both inmates and staff."

Updating the Class X misconduct policy has played a pivotal role in driving this positive change. By imposing tougher penalties on the most dangerous behaviors, ODOC has strengthened accountability and contributed to the overall reduction in violence.

ODOC operations staff continuously monitors violence trends and adapts strategies to ensure the safety of those in its care. One facility that has shown vast improvement is the Great Plains Correctional Center in Hinton. Leadership, population and operational changes have resulted in significant declines in incident numbers:

• July incidents fell by 33% from FY24 to FY25;
• August saw an even more remarkable 58% reduction;
• September incidents dropped by 33%;
• Bringing the first quarter totals down by 44%.

While still in the early stages, adding body-worn cameras has enhanced the safety of the inmates and the dedicated staff working in correctional facilities statewide, while adding transparency into the agency's operations. During the months-long pilot program, Oklahoma State Penitentiary and Howard McLeod Correctional Center collectively saw a 40% reduction in serious incidents. This trend is expected to continue across all facilities statewide.

Oklahoma Corrections remains committed to advancing these efforts – prioritizing the safety and security of its staff and inmate population. The agency will build on these accomplishments, exploring further reforms to sustain and amplify this positive trajectory as it continues to transform inmates’ lives for a stronger Oklahoma.