Women In Prison | Tulsa World

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 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 capita, compared to the national average of 69, 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

OLDEST FIRST NEWEST FIRST

Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board recommends early parole for Spottedcrow, sentenced for selling $31 worth of marijuana 4/19/2012

Grassroots support may evolve into early parole for a Kingfisher mother who was handed a strict prison sentence for a first-time offense of selling $31 worth of marijuana.

Oklahoma parole board agrees to give Spottedcrow, guilty seller of $31 in pot, early hearing 2/16/2012

A Kingfisher woman serving an eight-year prison sentence on a first-time offense for selling $31 in marijuana is getting a chance at parole after the board unanimously agreed to hear her case early.

Mom of 4 reflects on first year in prison for $31 pot sale 12/26/2011

Wearing prison-issue yellow clothes, Patricia Spottedcrow reflects on her first year in prison through the lens of tears and determination.

15 graduate from drug diversion program Women in Recovery 12/15/2011

Two years ago Erin Haddock was facing 10 years in prison for endeavoring to manufacture meth.

District Attorney wants notice before inmates released with GPS monitors 11/1/2011

A new law speeds up the time frame in which inmates become eligible for serving time via GPS ankle monitors, but Tulsa County District Attorney Tim Harris said his office was not given sufficient notice of the inmates scheduled for release from prison Tuesday.

Mom who sold $31 in pot gets 4 years cut from 12-year prison term 10/4/2011

A Kingfisher County judge took four years off a 12-year prison sentence for a first-time offender who sold $31 worth of marijuana to an informant.

Mom who sold $31 in pot seeks reduction to 12-year sentence 8/30/2011

A Kingfisher County woman profiled in a Tulsa World story earlier this year examining the state's high female incarceration rate has a hearing for a sentence modification set for Oct. 6.

Pet project helps women out of prison get jobs 7/12/2011

Before she became involved with Pets Helping People, LeaAnn Eastteam had forgotten what it felt like to truly control her destiny.

Mom moves forward after serving sentence 7/10/2011

Megan Olmstead has a tan now, one of the telltale signs that she's no longer living in a correctional facility.

Gov. Mary Fallin signs bill to ease prison crowding 5/12/2011

Gov. Mary Fallin on Wednesday signed what she called landmark corrections reform legislation.

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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.

Learn more about Oklahoma Watch.

2009 Female Offender Report from the Department of Corrections

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