Assessor  |   County Clerk  |   Court Clerk  |   District Attorney  |   District 1  |   District 2  |   District 3  |   Sheriff  |   Treasurer

NEWS

Read the latest news release below. Watch Live to view the meetings in real time. Search the archive of video recordings or news articles.

Archive     Watch Live

31Jul

Commissioner Carrie Blumert Leads Efforts for Behavioral Care Center in Oklahoma County

31 Jul, 2024 | Return|

For Immediate Release:

July 31, 2024

Oklahoma County, OK -- Today, with a motion from Commissioner Carrie Blumert, the Oklahoma County Board of County Commissioners unanimously voted to advance the construction of the County's Behavioral Care Center for the new County Jail.

The 60-bed facility, expected to serve thousands annually, spearheaded by Commissioner Carrie Blumert, will serve individuals who come in contact with the new Oklahoma County Jail by providing trauma-informed mental health care to its residents in a short-term residential setting as an alternative to jail.

The Behavioral Care Center is a pivotal step in addressing the complex intersection of mental health and the criminal justice system. By providing effective treatment and support, the County aims to significantly reduce the re-entry of individuals with mental health needs into the county jail. Residents of the Care Center who complete the program and demonstrate the success of their mental health treatment can avoid entering the county jail, will not face criminal charges, and will receive resources to continue care.

Commissioner Carrie Blumert expressed her unwavering commitment to this innovative initiative: “The establishment of the Behavioral Care Center represents a significant milestone for Oklahoma County. By prioritizing mental health resources and implementing a diversion program, we are taking a proactive approach to reduce the jail population and provide critical support to those in need.”

In furtherance of this initiative, Commissioner Blumert is leading efforts to take a group of mental health professionals to visit The Davidson County Behavioral Care Center, a model center in Nashville, Tennessee, in August.

The Oklahoma County Behavioral Care Center marks a significant step to decriminalize mental illness.

For More Information Contact:

Oklahoma County District 1 
405-713-1501

- 30 -

Related

Federal Jury Rules in Favor of County in 2019 Jail Death

On Friday, August 11, 2023, a federal jury ruled in favor of Oklahoma County, the defendant in a civ...

Read More >

Business-Related Functions - Coronavirus (COVID-19)

This information page provides useful links and updated information to assist with communication and...

Read More >

Deadline looms for Homestead Exemption filing & Business Personal Property Taxes

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR MORE INFORMATIONMarch 3, 2021Larry Stein - (405) 713-1201, cell (405)...

Read More >

Courthouse & Government Offices Close Early Due to Inclement Weather; Election Board Remains Open

Due to adverse weather conditions and in alignment with area school closures, the Oklahoma County Co...

Read More >

Commissioner Carrie Blumert Tours Jones Elementary School Early Childhood Center

JONES – Today, District One County Commissioner Carrie Blumert toured the recently opened Jones Pub...

Read More >

Construction Begins April 8th at the Waterloo and MacArthur Intersection

On or around April 8th, the District 3 road crew will begin construction on the Waterloo and MacArth...

Read More >

WATCH LIVE AND ON-DEMAND


Click to view live meetings and recorded videos on the Oklahoma County YoutTube channel. To receive notifications, Subscribe to our channel.

News Archive

Filter by month to lookup historical News Articles.

Video Archive

Find and watch historical recorded meetings.

To find upcoming meeting information, view Agendas & Minutes.