OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (KOKH) — Oklahoma prison officials are changing how they evaluate incarcerated women.
The Oklahoma Department of Corrections announced it will begin assessing female inmates using the Women’s Risk Needs Assessment, an evidence-based instrument designed to identify needs and guide rehabilitation planning. The agency said addressing underlying factors that contributed to incarceration can be a first step toward breaking the cycle of recidivism.
When someone is sentenced to prison, ODOC says they’re evaluated during intake to identify factors and circumstances that contributed to the incarceration. According to ODOC, for decades, it has used the same assessment tool for every inmate, regardless of gender. ODOC said research shows women often enter prison with different life experiences than men, including higher rates of trauma, abuse, mental health challenges, and substance use disorders, and that those experiences require different interventions and a different path toward rehabilitation…