Oklahoma Mental Health Department Fails to Meet Settlement Terms

An alarming report has revealed that the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services is significantly failing to comply with a settlement agreement stemming from a class action lawsuit. The report indicates that over 300 mental health programs, which provide essential services to Oklahomans, are not being renewed, leading to concerns about the state’s ability to deliver adequate mental health treatment.

The class action lawsuit, filed in 2023 against former Commissioner Allie Friesen, Interim Executive Director of the Oklahoma Forensic Center Debbie Moran, and the department itself, highlighted critical issues such as long wait times and insufficient mental health treatment for criminal defendants found incompetent to stand trial. The court had mandated the department to rectify the backlog of individuals awaiting mental health treatment, but the latest findings suggest little progress.

Compliance Issues and Missed Deadlines

According to the report from the court-appointed monitor, almost none of the deadlines set for compliance by the department were met by the designated date of June 8, 2025. Key findings from the report include:

• No comprehensive Strategic Plan was developed as required.
• All class members awaiting restoration services had not been reevaluated.
• The necessary bed analysis to project required forensic beds had not commenced.
• Plans to adequately staff the Oklahoma Forensic Center (OFC) and the central office forensic unit were not prepared.
• Development of a jail-based competency restoration program at the Tulsa County Jail had not begun.
• Training for legal officials was not implemented.

The only deadlines met involved training for forensic staff and establishing a triage process for those awaiting restoration services, but these accomplishments are overshadowed by the broader compliance failures. The department has been under scrutiny since the settlement was established on March 10, 2025.

Government Response and Next Steps

Attorney General Genter Drummond expressed his concern over the report’s findings, emphasizing the necessity for the Department of Mental Health to adhere to the settlement plan. “It is critical that the Department of Mental Health actually comply with the plan,” he stated in a recent press release.

The report acknowledged the leadership transition within the department, noting that Interim Commissioner Greg Slavonic has made strides in various areas. However, the department’s failure to implement required changes raises serious questions about its commitment to improving mental health services.

In a statement to the media, the department highlighted its ongoing collaboration with court-appointed consultants to develop a Competency Restoration Plan that meets the consent decree’s requirements. A spokesperson noted, “Change of this scale doesn’t happen overnight, but the court consultants’ advice has been crucial to our progress.”

Additionally, the department indicated that some aspects of compliance may require changes to state laws, which will not be feasible until the legislative session resumes in February 2026.

If the department continues to fall short in meeting the stipulated requirements, the court has the authority to impose various sanctions, including injunctions and fines. The implications of these compliance issues are significant, affecting not only the department’s operations but also the well-being of countless individuals relying on its services.