NCJ Number
123176
Date Published
Unknown
Length
12 pages
Annotation
In 1982, the Oklahoma juvenile justice system came under scrutiny due to a highly publicized series of investigative newspaper articles, national television coverage, and congressional hearings that uncovered the abuse and neglect of children in institutions under the auspices of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services.
Abstract
It was revealed that the Department essentially answered to no one, even though it received more than half of the State budget. Since Oklahoma did not participate in the Federal Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, the Department had no Federal monitors. Spurred by public scrutiny, the Oklahoma legislature passed reforms that brought far-reaching changes to its juvenile justice and child welfare systems. One of the cornerstones was the creation of the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth, specifically to bring accountability and oversight into the child care system. The Commission is the umbrella agency for the following: Oklahoma Council on Juvenile Justice, Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Advisory Committee, Interagency Child Abuse Prevention Task Force, Interagency Coordinating Council for Early Childhood Intervention, and Oklahoma's Permanency Planning Task Force. The Commission's Office of Juvenile System Oversight has the responsibility for investigating and reporting malfeasance within the juvenile justice system. 1 figure.