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Resident urges commissioners to support detention‑center garden, citing reduced recidivism and wellbeing
Summary
During public comment Susan Bergen described a proposed 120x120-foot prison garden for the Cleveland County Detention Center, drawing on seven years' experience and claiming benefits including dignity, lower recidivism and mental‑health improvements; the board noted support but took no formal action.
Susan Bergen told the board she and the Bergen family will help start a prison garden project at the Cleveland County Detention Center and described the project as a small (120x120-foot) but "transformational" effort that would use well water and provide programming and produce for the jail, farmers markets and the community.
Bergen stated she has seven years of experience running prison diversion garden programs in Oklahoma County and cited outcomes including reduced recidivism, improved mental health, lower violence, and skills and job‑readiness benefits for participating incarcerated individuals. The board recognized her comment and earlier expressed general support for a Bergen family garden; no formal motion or funding was recorded in the minutes.
