DIVERSION REFERRAL PROGRAM LAUNCHES AT OCDC TO
REDUCE JAIL POPULATION, RECIDIVISM

OKLAHOMA CITY (Oct. 13, 2022) – A new program at the Oklahoma County Detention Center, supported by the Arnall Family Foundation, is designed to help reduce jail population and recidivism rates. The Diversion Referral Program aims to provide people faster and more efficient access to resources offered by various diversion programs in Oklahoma County. Trained professionals of the program, known as Diversion Liaisons, will work with jail staff six days a week in the intake area to assess detainees and determine which types of diversion programs and/or pre-trial release programs suit their situation. "Lowering the detainee population is one of the surest ways to improve safety and security in the jail. While many programs exist to help detainees return to their productive lives, it can be difficult to know what is available and access the services,” said Greg Williams, Oklahoma County Detention Center CEO. “Diversion Liaisons will help quickly determine who is eligible for diversion and pre-trial release programs. We appreciate the support from community groups who want to help us and the people who have been arrested." Diversion Liaisons will offer people brought into the jail the opportunity to share information about their circumstance through a short survey. They will provide the collected information to diversion partners and to the Oklahoma County Public Defender’s office pre-arraignment. “Placing Diversion Liaisons at the jail will significantly reduce barriers to accessing successful diversion programs in our community for individuals booked into the Oklahoma County Detention Center,” said Sue Ann Arnall, president of the Arnall Family Foundation and a trustee of the Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Authority. “We hope that this will not only reduce the amount of time spent in the jail for individuals who are matched with a diversion program, but that this assistance will eliminate or reduce any future interactions with the criminal legal system. In turn, this should decrease the number of people in the jail.” Diversion Liaison staff are currently providing services on site at the jail Monday through Saturday from 6:30 a.m. until midnight.