Women In Prison | Tulsa World

Patricia Spottedcrow (right) hugs activist Brenda Golden of the SPIRIT Organization after Spottedcrow being released from from Hillside Community Corrections Center in Oklahoma City on Thursday . CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World

Patricia Spottedcrow once faced 12 years in prison, but on the morning she was released on parole, it took less than 20 minutes to walk free.

She was released Thursday morning after completing the community corrections-level portion of her sentence required by Gov. Mary Fallin as a condition of her parole.

Spottedcrow's 12-year prison sentence for selling $31 worth of marijuana garnered widespread attention after her story was featured in a 2011 Tulsa World series on women in prison.

Patricia Spottedcrow during an inmate count at Dr. Eddie Warrior Correctional Facility in Taft. JOHN CLANTON/Tulsa World

Patricia Spottedcrow sold $31 in marijuana to an informant and received 12 years in prison.

She was one of the women profiled in the series that investigated why Oklahoma is ranked No. 1 in the nation in the number of women in prison.

The state incarcerates 134 women per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 69 per 100,000, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. While the number of women entering Oklahoma’s prisons each year has remained somewhat stable in recent years – 1,284 in 2009 – the number of women in the system has grown to a high for the decade as tougher sentencing laws have passed.

The cost to taxpayers is high, up to $43 per inmate per day at one facility. Meanwhile, experts say the children of female prisoners are at risk to continue the cycle.

In 2011, the Tulsa World partnered with Oklahoma Watch -- an independent, non-profit investigative reporting team -- to explore the issue of female incarceration.

Headlines

Women in Recovery program honors 15 new graduates 1/16/2013

Cheri Brackett was haunted by what she saw the first time she visited the trailer where the meth she consumed was manufactured.

Ginnie Graham: Telling Patricia Spottedcrow's story 12/5/2012

Meeting Patricia Spottedcrow two years ago was by chance.

Oklahoma prison system out of beds for female offenders 12/1/2012

The Oklahoma Department of Corrections is out of beds for female offenders, DOC Director Justin Jones said Friday.

Patricia Spottedcrow paroled early in 12-year sentence for $31 bag of marijuana 11/30/2012

The four reasons Patricia Spottedcrow most wanted out of prison were back in her arms Thursday afternoon, after their mother was released on parole.

Inmates receive GEDs at graduation ceremony behind bars 10/26/2012

Dawn Bjornson gave her valedictorian speech in stops and starts Thursday, trying to hold back tears between deep breaths.

Inmate held for $31 marijuana sale bounced around amid confusion on parole status 8/30/2012

An inmate in a high-profile case spent much of Tuesday on a prison bus, as officers drove her from Oklahoma City to Taft and then back because of confusion over her parole status.

Fallin grants early release to Spottedcrow 7/21/2012

Gov. Mary Fallin has agreed to early release for inmate Patricia Spottedcrow, a young mother whose story of a lengthy sentence for a small marijuana deal was featured in a Tulsa World series on Women in Prison.

May grads first to complete TU's nonprofit management certification program 4/23/2011

Victoria Hui contemplated a career in nursing but realized that science wasn't really what she loved.

Story on mom jailed for marijuana prompts wide support 3/22/2011

An Oklahoma inmate profiled in a Tulsa World story examining the state's high female incarceration rate has prompted a groundswell of support ranging from attorney services to an online petition circulating across the globe.

Center Point serves as DOC facility for inmates in rehab 2/27/2011

Good morning ladies,' the women of Cen ter Point greet one another.

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Resources

The Tulsa World is a media partner with Oklahoma Watch, an independent, nonprofit, investigative and in-depth reporting team that collaborates with other news organizations and higher education to produce journalism in the public interest.

Oklahoma Watch's first project is looking into why Oklahoma sends more women to prison than any other state on a per capita basis.

2009 Female Offender Report from the Department of Corrections

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