Many believe our communities are made safer by increased incarceration. During my 30 years in law enforcement, I have learned that this is simply not true.

I started my career during the era of zero tolerance and am still a firm believer of someone paying their debt to society. However, I don't believe that incarceration for certain nonviolent crimes is always the correct response. Arrests and convictions for these crimes continue to lead to jail overcrowding and, ultimately, do not decrease crime.

Oklahoma should reform its criminal justice system to better prioritize resources toward public safety. Our current approach relies heavily on jails and prisons, but these facilities have limited space and resources, and come at a significant cost to taxpayers. Instead, we should provide certain nonviolent offenders with treatment and support that will break their ties to the criminal justice system and reduce the likelihood that they graduate to more serious criminal activity. The Legislature is considering a series of bills to make these changes.

Oklahoma's prison population has grown for years and shows no signs of stopping. Since 2008, the national imprisonment rate has fallen by 11 percent while crime also decreased. Meanwhile, Oklahoma's prison population has increased by 9 percent in the past five years. We imprison more of our women than any other state, at a rate double the national average. By 2026, the inmate population is expected to grow by another 25 percent, with a projected cost of $1.9 billion. Without action, we will soon surpass Louisiana as the world's leading incarcerator.