A class action suit has been filed against the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse for allegedly not providing mental health resources to inmates in due course, KFOR reported March 4.
The suit directly named Carrie Slatton-Hodges, commissioner of the department, and Crystal Hernandez, executive director of the Oklahoma Forensic Center.
While three plaintiffs are named in the court documents obtained by the news outlet, the lawsuit states that the number of class members is believed to be over 100.
"We have not completed our review of the lawsuit, however, we disagree with its premise," Jeff Dismukes, chief public information officer for the department of mental health and substance abuse, told KFOR. "The department has worked diligently to begin providing competency restoration services in the jail setting. This means that the individuals no longer have to wait for treatment to begin."