Sen. Williamson Promotes Incentive Pay for Corrections for Lower Recidivism Rates

State Senator James A. Williamson has authored legislation calling for a special incentive package for employees within the Department of Corrections. The incentives would be awarded to employees of prisons that can show a measurable reduction in recidivism among their former inmates.

“Oklahoma has one of the highest incarceration rates in the nation. What I am proposing is a free-market approach that would encourage innovation within the Department of Corrections to reduce the number of inmates who return to crime when they’re released from prison,” said Williamson, R-Tulsa. “That in turn will reduce our incarceration rates and save taxpayers millions of dollars each year.”

Senator Williamson said public safety is a top priority for him and that he supports efforts to ensure competitive wages within corrections. He said the long-term problem, however, is the growing prison population.

“Right now unfortunately, there’s no ownership in the sense of wanting to make sure that a particular inmate gets the necessary help to ensure that we don’t see them back in our institutions. This proposal will give Corrections employees a pay incentive over and above what we give as base pay to help reduce recidivism,” said Williamson.

Under his proposal, Williamson said Corrections would be called to monitor the success rate of programs, such as literacy or other services, aimed at reducing the number of repeat offenders in Oklahoma. Prisons that could then show a lower rate of recidivism among former inmates would be eligible for incentive pay for that institution’s employees.

“The challenge for corrections institutions will be to track the success of programs aimed at keeping inmates from returning to crime after they are released. However, I believe it is a necessary step toward addressing the larger issue of an ever expanding inmate population and the heavy toll it takes on our state’s budget.”

Williamson’s bill will be considered when the 2006 session convenes on Monday, February 6.