Key Numbers
KIDS COUNT Ranking
Out of 50 states — Child Wellbeing
Source: Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2023
Black-to-White Youth Detention
Among the worst racial disparities nationally
Source: Sentencing Project / OJJDP
Education Spending
Out of 51 — near the very bottom
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Youth Detention Disparities
Youth Placement Rates by Race
Per 100,000 youth — Oklahoma, 2023
Black youth detained vs. White youth
Native American youth detained vs. White youth
Black youth in Oklahoma are detained at 12.6 times the rate of White youth — among the worst racial disparities in the nation.
The School-to-Prison Pipeline
Underfunded schools (#47 spending)
Oklahoma ranks near last in per-pupil education spending nationally.
Youth detention (12.6:1 disparity)
Black youth are detained at dramatically higher rates than White youth.
Adult incarceration (4.4:1 disparity)
Adult incarceration also shows a 4.4:1 Black-to-White disparity.
The Pipeline is Accelerating
The youth disparity (12.6:1 Black-to-White) is nearly 3x the adult disparity (4.4:1), indicating the school-to-prison pipeline is dramatically worse for Oklahoma Black youth.
Youth disparity
Adult disparity
Children of Incarcerated Parents
Oklahoma children has had a parent incarcerated
Source: Annie E. Casey Foundation
Children of incarcerated parents are 6x more likely to be incarcerated themselves
The Sentencing Project (national statistics)
Children of incarcerated parents are 33% higher rates of behavioral health issues
Annie E. Casey Foundation (national statistics)
Children of incarcerated parents are 40% experience drops in academic performance
Annie E. Casey Foundation (national statistics)
What Reform Would Mean for Oklahoma Kids
Moderate reform (25% reduction) would free $135M annually — money that could transform outcomes for Oklahoma children.
More per student per year
Moderate reform (25% reduction) would free $135M annually for education.
Full Pre-K slots
$135M could fund universal Pre-K access for thousands of Oklahoma children.
A mental health counselor
$135M could place a dedicated counselor in every Oklahoma public school.
Explore the Data
Oklahoma’s children deserve better. Explore the data to understand why reform matters.