OKLAHOMA CITY (Free Press) — Oklahoma County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) obtained a presentation by a process drive on juvenile detention middle practices Monday.
The BoCC retained personal counsel for Jail detention officers being sued for the dying of a detainee within the Jail.
Along with different enterprise, additionally they licensed Faculty Useful resource Officers (SROs) for 2 faculty districts within the county and disposed of surplus land.
Juvenile Activity Power
The Train for America juvenile Activity Power attended Monday’s assembly to current their findings and proposals to the Commissioners. The Activity Power frolicked researching and conducting interviews relating to Oklahoma’s practices surrounding incarceration and remedy of youthful offenders (YO).
The Activity Power, composed of eight present and former educators, made plenty of suggestions relating to juvenile practices.
The primary set of suggestions had been particularly geared towards holding younger folks out of incarceration fully. The group stated that community-based options to sentencing present a a lot decrease fee of recidivism amongst YOs than incarceration.
The group additionally targeted on trauma-informed care coaching. Whereas most businesses, organizations, and repair suppliers for juveniles within the legal authorized system have trauma-informed coaching out there, many don’t require these trainings.
This Activity Power wish to see that change. Moreover, the duty Power requires judges and attorneys working within the juvenile system to obtain trauma-informed care coaching.
A deficit in care that the Activity Power raised was the shortage of counseling sources for YOs in Oklahoma County. The County’s Juvenile Bureau at the moment has one licensed skilled counselor devoted to the Juvenile Detention Heart. With a revolving caseload of upwards of forty younger shoppers, extra counselors ought to be made a precedence.
Oklahoma holds the unhappy distinction of main the nation in Antagonistic Childhood Experiences (ACE) scores. With so many younger folks experiencing trauma after which ending up within the care of our county authorized system, extra psychological well being sources are a dire want.
In the course of the course of their work, the Activity Power members weren’t in a position to interview any juveniles who had been incarcerated.
Personal Counsel
Three agreements had been authorized between the BoCC and the personal legislation agency of Gary J. James for authorized illustration of people named in ongoing litigation in opposition to Oklahoma County, the Jail, and a number of other people.
Detention officers Jonathan Johnson and James Newkirk are listed as defendants within the case styled Willis vs Oklahoma County Detention Heart et al, whereby the property of a person who died in Jail custody claims his civil rights had been violated by the Jail, the County, and these detention officers who had been current when Mr. Willis died.
Brian Harrison is listed as a defendant within the case styled Chrisman vs Board of County Commissioners of Oklahoma County et al. That case equally names the County, the Jail, and detention officers who had been current on the time of the dying in custody of Mr. Chrisman.
Every of the agreements are for an quantity to not exceed $125,000.00.
Surplus Land
4 plots of land in District 3, north of the District work barn, had been declared surplus beforehand. At Monday’s assembly of the BoCC, bids for these properties had been obtained and awarded.
Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit that builds homes for folks with low incomes or different boundaries, received the bid on three of the heaps. A personal citizen received the bid on the fourth.
One other property within the City of Luther was formally declared surplus at Monday’s assembly. The Board voted in favor of the declaration and to execute a Give up Declare Deed to the City of Luther to take possession of the property. That land, initially acquired by the county in 1925, will now belong to Luther. Luther’s Metropolis Park shall be enhanced with the brand new property.
Sheriff’s Enterprise
The Sheriff’s Workplace introduced a number of gadgets to the agenda, principally regarding renewals and grant awards.
One merchandise, nevertheless, was trigger for some slight shock. Deer Creek Public Faculties requested to decrease the variety of Faculty Useful resource Officers for this faculty 12 months. As an alternative of 4, as in previous years, the brand new settlement is for under three SROs, with the choice so as to add one other if the brand new superintendent deems it mandatory.
The Board additionally authorized one SRO for Star Spencer.
Government Session
One merchandise mentioned behind closed doorways throughout Government Session involved a possible declare to be introduced by the County in opposition to the State. The State of Oklahoma and the Workplace of Juvenile Affairs have a statutory obligation to pay a portion of the prices of working the juvenile detention facility.
After getting back from Government Session, District 3 Commissioner Kevin Calvey made a movement {that a} demand letter be drafted and despatched to the suitable workplace of the State.
The subsequent assembly of the Board of County Commissioners shall be on Monday, August 2 at 9:00 a.m.
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Final Up to date July 19, 2023, 1:00 PM by Brett Dickerson – Editor
The submit Juvenile Task Force delivers recommendations to County Commissioners appeared first on Oklahoma City Free Press.
