NORMAN — Oklahoma continues to lead the nation in incarceration of women, according to a January 2010 study by the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth.

The female prison population is the largest per capita in the country, with 2,693 prisoners as of Sept. 30, 2009. The rate for Oklahoma is 134 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 69 per 100,000 residents.

In Cleveland County, 2,900 women were arrested in 2010 in Cleveland County with 32 of those women going into prison.

The Cleveland County Detention Center is seriously overcrowded, and when Sheriff Joe Lester was elected in 2009, he looked at the numbers to see what could be done to alleviate some of the problems.

One thing he noticed was that many of the women, sometimes as many as 70 percent, were returning to jail over and over.

“Not only is it bad for the women, it costs taxpayers money,” Undersheriff Rhett Burnett said. “And known programs were not making a dent.”

Lester enlisted the aid of Rock Richardson, MPH, LPC, LADC, a mental health and substance abuse counselor, to find out why the women were coming back and what could be done to stop the cycle.

Richardson applied for a grant with the U.S. Department of Justice and began the Second Chance Act Program, S-CAP.

“The grants were first funded by Congress in 2008 with a goal of reducing the number of women recycling back into the jail system,” Burnett said. “Hopefully, S-CAP can get them in a sustained job environment or careers to make better income and lower risk to come back into jail.”

In January, Richardson opened an office with job coach Beth Jones to help the women.

They visit the women while they are still in jail to determine their needs and to tell them about S-CAP.

The women told them employment, housing, child care and transportation were the main four obstacles they face.

“In Oklahoma, felonies are not graded,” Richardson said. “Someone who writes a hot check is the same as someone who murders someone.”

Many women are arrested on nonviolent charges, can’t bail out or — if they do — can’t pay the court costs and they land back in jail, Richardson said.

He said the average court costs are $2,000, and without a decent job, the women can’t pay the fines. Those arrested on DUIs lose their driver’s license.

“Some have no transportation and can’t make it to court or employment, especially in the rural areas,” Richardson said. “A lot of them have little or no assets available to them. And in Oklahoma, employers don’t have to hire a felon.”

Richardson and Jones are talking with employers in the area about hiring the women in S-CAP.

“There are tax incentives for those who do hire felons,” Richardson said. “They can get a really big tax break.”

Women who are serious about making changes enroll in S-CAP.

“It is a volunteer, not a court-ordered program, and the women who sign up want help,” said Beth Jones, project coordinator.

“And it makes it obvious to the court that they are trying to change,” Burnett said.

“Pardon and parole are allowing the women to skate a little sometimes because they have someone to help,” Jones said.

“They’re not asking for forgiveness, they still have to pay fees,” Richardson said.

“When a woman comes out, some don’t have family or friends to help and sometimes they need to cut off those they do have,” Richardson said. “S-CAP helps the women use resources differently.”

At S-CAP, the women learn resumé writing and job-training skills and get help with housing, child care and education.

S-CAP re-evaluates skills, does job profiles and teaches what is needed to attain a certificate. Then the woman is matched with an employer.

Autumn, 25, a mother of two young children and another on the way, heard about the program from a female prisoner while she was in jail. The first thing she did when she was released was go to S-CAP and asked for help.

Autumn is worried about paying her court costs.

“She asked if I could help her get a job at McDonald’s or some place like that,” Jones said.

“It’s a lot of little things that snowball,” Autumn said. “It’s so frustrating.”

Autumn has talked with the counselor at Moore Norman Technology Center and is trying to pass the Compass Test.

“After a few weeks in the program, she has gained self confidence and is planning on attending nursing school in the fall,” Jones said.

A number of local businesses and organizations have partnered with S-CAP, including the University of Oklahoma School of Social Work, Moore Norman Technology Center, Rose State College and the Department of Rehabilitation Services.

McFarlin Memorial United Methodist Church offers mentors, counseling and spiritual help.

Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art and the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History have partnered with S-CAP and provide safe, educational and social outings for women and their children.

Cindy’s Resale provides women with professional clothing to apply for a job and assistance once they receive a job. Paul Mitchell also is helping.

The city of Norman and Food and Shelter for Friends are helping with housing, Jones said.

“We give the women a sense of, ‘I can do this,’” Jones said.

“I’m glad that Sheriff Lester had the vision that we needed to put a stop to this (women returning to jail) and found resources,” Richardson said. “It’s a very exciting time.”

“Let’s keep them out of jail, help them find employment and pay their debt back to society,” Burnett said.

So far, the program seems to be working. Of the 125 participants who have enrolled since January, seven have returned to jail, Richardson said.

“We try to reduce the stress for these women so they can make good decisions,” he said. “Some may drift a while, but they’ll call.”

For more information, call Jones at 310-3684. The office is at 123 E. Tonahawa St.