A U.S. Department of Justice investigation has found Oklahoma City and its police department have discriminated against people with behavioral health disabilities.

Summary

The DOJ has found that Oklahoma City and its police department discriminate against people with behavioral health disabilities by unnecessarily institutionalizing individuals and escalating crises with armed police instead of behavioral health professionals.

The 45-page report highlights avoidable use of force and unmet mental health needs, with the DOJ offering to work with city officials to address violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

State leaders, including the governor and attorney general, acknowledged mental health system issues but criticized the DOJ’s findings as federal overreach.

  • DominusOfMegadeus
    7·
    2 days ago

    In separate statements, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond and Gov. Kevin Stitt acknowledged the need for improvements to the state’s mental health system but were critical of the DOJ under President Joe Biden for what they characterized as federal overreach.

    “We will closely review the findings, but the DOJ report appears to be an attempt to bully Oklahoma into compliance with ever-changing and undefined targets,” Drummond said.

    So basically “You got us, but we don’t understand the charges, and have no idea what to do, and you shouldn’t have been looking anyway, so we’re gonna keep it up.”

    Un-fucking-real