Oklahoma mental health agency faces deadline to improve treatment for incompetent inmates

Sunday is the deadline for the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, which must finalize and begin implementing a court-ordered plan to improve mental health treatment for inmates deemed incompetent to stand trial.

The plan follows a class action lawsuit that accused the state of violating the constitutional rights of these inmates by subjecting them to lengthy delays before receiving court-ordered mental health care.

>> Lawmakers finalize decree aimed at reducing mental health wait times for inmates

The agency is now required to reduce wait times and ensure that individuals found incompetent are moved into treatment in a timely manner.

A newly enacted state law assigns oversight of the process to a mental health officer, who will monitor progress and enforce compliance with the plan.

Lawmakers say that the law is a step toward fixing a system that's failed for years, and ensuring vulnerable Oklahomans get the help they need.