The effort is focused on getting municipal inmates, typically detained for minor offenses, out of jail and in front of a judge quickly. The city has also accelerated its efforts to get inmates into diversion programs, such as the Municipal Court’s Special Services Docket, that can help them access social services.

Since the Tulsa municipal jail opened, 156 people have taken part in the Special Services Docket. The program allows individuals charged with misdemeanor municipal charges the opportunity to have their cases dismissed and fines and court costs waived if they work with social service groups to address their underlying problems and appear in court as scheduled.

Another 456 people never made it to the jail because they were instead brought to the Tulsa Sobering Center, 6333 E. Skelly Drive. The Sobering Center, operated by 12&12, provides individuals detained for public intoxication with a place to sleep it off and access to counseling services.

Despite the success of those programs, Brown said, work remains to address the needs of the homeless and those afflicted with mental health and substance-abuse problems.