County Commissioner

I think we have some really awesome people... and they have very good intentions, and I think we are going to see some really good changes because of our Jail Trust.

My goal today is to humanize the people involved in our justice system. They are just like you and me.

I'm sure that everyone in this room has engaged in some type of activity that could have gotten you thrown in jail, and we just happened to not get caught.

Poetic Justice is a program here in Oklahoma, started by a woman named Ellen Stackable, and she goes into jails and prisons, and works with women, and teaches them how to write . . . poetry.

Sometimes we forget that the people we incarcerate are just that; they're people. They are our friends, our neighbors, and our family members. When we lock them up, we take away their ability to contribute to the world.

Think back to your manifesto... every person is creative, and every person has the ability to contribute to the world.

The topic of justice reform is important here in Oklahoma.

It is incredible what natural lighting can do for a person. Our jail currently has almost no natural lighting. Almost none. And if you're a person struggling with depression or anxiety, no natural light can really exacerbate that, let alone being in a jail cell.