Although he would not offer a direct endorsement, State Health Commissioner Terry Cline said in an interview Wednesday that although there are some legitimate questions around implementing SQ 780 and SQ 781 , it's the right direction for Oklahoma.

If Oklahomans truly want a better mental health system — one that diverts people with brain diseases away from the criminal justice system — they will support the criminal justice reform measures, SQ 780 and SQ 781, a state health leader said Wednesday.

In the past decade, the number of Oklahomans with mental illnesses and substance use disorders ending up in county jails and state prisons has continued to grow. Currently, 60 percent of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections' population — almost 17,000 people — either has a history of or current symptoms of mental illness.

Cline said how Oklahomans vote on SQ 780 and SQ 781 will say a lot about their priorities for this vulnerable population.

SQ 780 would reclassify some criminal offenses, such as drug possession and property crimes, as misdemeanors instead of felonies. SQ 781 would take money saved from implementing SQ 780 and allow counties to fund community rehabilitation programs with the savings.

"For one, I think it shows the will of the people to make a decision – are you for treatment and actually improving the health of individuals who are struggling with these illnesses?" Cline said. "Is the Oklahoma Standard to provide these resources to individuals who are struggling with chronic illnesses that are diseases of the brain, or is it to be punitive and lock them up to get them out of the way and out of our society for a limited period of time without solving or addressing the issues that really plague these individuals, which are illnesses? I think we’ll find out on Nov. 8."