Without legislative action, Oklahoma will need three new prisons during the next 10 years

If no state action is taken to constrain prison growth, Oklahoma's prison population during the next 10 years will increase by 25 percent — more than 7,000 people — and require three more prisons to be built or contracted, newly released data shows.

The Oklahoma Justice Reform Task Force, created in July, found that Oklahoma's current prison population greatly exceeds capacity, posing problems for prison staff and reducing the ability to rehabilitate offenders, 94 percent of whom return to the community.

The task force was scheduled to make its final report to Gov. Mary Fallin and legislative leaders Thursday for possible legislative action next year.

However, Fallin's office announced Tuesday afternoon that the task force wouldn't meet that deadline.