Attorney General Gentner Drummond has announced a settlement in a class-action lawsuit aimed at improving Oklahoma's mental health services within the criminal justice system. The agreement, supported by Governor Stitt and the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS), is expected to save the state millions and deliver justice more efficiently.
"This settlement is a significant win for Oklahoma," said Drummond. "Victims and their families no longer will have to endure unnecessary delays for justice to be served, our criminal justice system will be rid of problems that have plagued it for years and Oklahomans will save tens of millions in taxpayer dollars by avoiding the costs and risks of ongoing litigation."
The lawsuit, Briggs v. Slatton-Hodges, filed in March 2023, accused ODMHSAS of violating due process rights by not providing timely competency restoration services to some pretrial defendants. This failure resulted in inmates being held without trial for extended periods, delaying justice for crime victims.
A proposed consent decree aims to enhance these services, ensuring timely administration of justice. The Contingency Review Board, chaired by Gov. Stitt, is set to review the agreement in January.