Criminal justice reform, new OK County jail hailed at mental health center groundbreaking

Oklahoma County criminal justice will be envied, and no longer condemned, with completion of the new Oklahoma County Detention Center with its Behavioral Care Center, at 1901 E Grand Blvd.

That’s according to Jeff Bradley, one of the chief architects of the Behavioral Care Center, which broke ground Friday in a ceremony with the Board of County Commissioners and others who’ve been working on a new county jail for years.

“This is a very unique facility,” comparable only to the Davidson County Downtown Detention Center in Nashville, Tennessee, built in 2020, said Bradley, senior principal and director of justice in the Dallas office of St. Louis-based HOK Group Inc., formerly Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum.

“When we explained to them what we’re doing here, they told us that, ‘You, Oklahoma County, will be the envy of all the counties in the nation,'” Bradley said. “What you have here, and the way the commissioners have it structured, it’s not inside the detention center, it’s separate.

“People will be diverted. They will not be considered incarcerated when they’re in the BCC, the Behavioral Care Center. They’ll be prepared for release.”

He said the Davidson County sheriff’s office, which runs the Nashville jail, reports reductions in recidivism — repeat offenders, called “frequent flyers” in justice circles — of more than 50%, saving lives and money.

HOK is working with Rees Associates Architects, which has offices in OKC and Dallas. Flintco LLC is the construction company.

Behavioral Care Center ‘a great first step to decriminalize mental illness’

The Behavioral Care Center will be “an alternative for people who are detained and incarcerated,” said Xavier Neira, a member of the Citizens Bond Oversight Advisory Board, which is guiding the construction and financing of the jail complex. “The BCC is a great first step to decriminalize mental illness.

“We’re going to be working on the jail next. It’s going to be very important. We want to make sure that we are working with everybody in the community to ensure the success of this program.”

‘Better for them … better for us … better for the taxpayer,’ commissioner says

Friday’s ceremony was nearly 20 years in the making, said Myles Davidson, chairman of the Board of County Commissioners. He said past commissioners and sheriffs started working on acquiring the land for a new jail in 2007.

“It’s a big day in Oklahoma County, a very, very big day,” said Davidson, who represents District 3. “The Behavioral Care Center is going to be a great way for us to do alternatives for individuals who have been incarcerated inside of the jail.

“We’re really looking forward to treating the mental health of the individuals of Oklahoma County outside of the jail setting. That’s going to be better for them, it’s going to be better for us, and better for the taxpayer.”

Commissioner praises Citizens Bond Oversight Advisory Board

Commissioner Brian Maughan thanked many people and organizations, but was especially appreciative of the Citizens Bond Oversight Advisory Board.

“They’re doing this all at their own expense and at their own time as volunteers,” said Maughan, who represents District 2. “Their … expertise has been invaluable to this point. … It’s been a problem for three decades (and they) helped advance this issue to this point.”

Staff writer Richard Mize covers Oklahoma County government and the city of Edmond. He previously covered housing, commercial real estate and related topics for the newspaper and Oklahoman.com, starting in 1999. Contact him at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma County breaks ground for Behavioral Care Center at jail site