Oklahoma Fails To Meet Consent Decree Requirements On Timely Competency Restoration

The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) has not yet met key requirements in a court-ordered consent decree aimed at improving access to competency restoration services for individuals with serious mental illness, according to a February 2026 court ruling in response to a Motion by ODMHSAS objecting to the findings of consultants hired to monitor the agency’s progress.

The consent decree stems from a 2023 lawsuit (Briggs v. Slavonic, 23-CV-81, Oklahoma Northern District) alleging that delays in competency restoration services were unconstitutional and violated defendants’ rights.

Under the decree, the state was . . .