[Markstwo]

I read that Oklahoma has more incarcerated women than any other state in the U.S. I found it really odd and was curious if anyone here has any idea as to why?

[StillwaterTownie]

Originally Posted by Markstwo

I read that Oklahoma has more incarcerated women than any other state in the U.S. I found it really odd and was curious if anyone here has any idea as to why?

Much of it has to do with theft becoming a felony when what is stolen is worth above $500. So I guess when women shoplift, the value of what is shoplifted is often above $500. In other states it's more like $2000. There is proposed legislation that would raise the value to make it a felony to above $1000.

Also part of it has to do with the highly punitive drug laws of Oklahoma. If you can't or won't pay your fine for possession of illegal drugs, or meet other requirements, you are subject to being sent to prison for at least a few years. Also the county DA has the power to send anybody convicted of drug possession to prison, whether a fine can be paid, or not. It doesn't make much sense to do that, since women coming out of prison say illegal drugs were just as easy to find in there as on the outside.