Tulsa, Oklahoma, is facing a serious issue with mental health care in jails. The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health has been criticized for long wait times for inmates needing treatment. Many inmates have been stuck in jail for months, raising concerns about their care.
The Tulsa County Jail, one of the key locations, has become a focal point in this debate. The state claims that space meant for mental health treatment is being used to hold ICE detainees. However, Sheriff Vic Regalado argues that’s not the case. He insists that the treatment area has been available for some time, but the state has not taken action.
Last year, there were talks about using a jail pod for mental health treatment, but Regalado feels those discussions went nowhere. “We are open to using a pod,” he said. “But since that meeting, we haven’t heard anything from the state.” This lack of communication is frustrating, especially since a lawsuit required the state to start a mental health treatment program by June 2025.
Consultants monitoring the state’s compliance with the lawsuit suggested that expanding treatment into county jails might be a solution. They believe this could help address the backlog of inmates needing care. However, it’s a complicated situation. The Sheriff’s Office does not see it as their responsibility to facilitate this program, even as inmates continue to wait for treatment. “We have people who are languishing in our jail,” Regalado emphasized.
The state recently submitted a compliance plan regarding mental health treatment but has not addressed concerns about the alleged use of the treatment space for ICE detainees. This ongoing situation raises important questions about how both state and local authorities can better support mental health care for inmates, addressing a crisis that affects many lives.
A recent survey showed that nearly 80% of Americans believe mental health care in jails needs improvement. This highlights a growing awareness of the issue, suggesting that communities are eager for change and better solutions. With voices from all sides calling for action, the hope is that progress can finally be made in providing inmates the mental health treatments they urgently need.
For further insights, you can explore the ongoing discussions around jail mental health treatment in various reports from the [National Institute of Mental Health](https://www.nimh.nih.gov) and other authoritative sources.
