OFEC’s Work in Tulsa Recognized

by Rev. Sharyn Cosby

Gina Pearson, Street Law Facilitator, engages youth on the topic of curfews: Why do we have them?Gina Pearson, Street Law Facilitator, engages youth on the topic of curfews: Why do we have them?

Oklahoma Family Empowerment Center’s work with Tulsa County stakeholders was recognized in the report, “Case Studies of Nine Jurisdictions that Reduced Disproportionate Minority Contact in their Juvenile Justice Systems.” The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention partnered with other organizations in Tulsa to reduce Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC) with law enforcement. DMC refers to the disproportionate number of minority youth who come into contact with the juvenile justice system.

This work was cited by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention for several accomplishments, including:

  • Building awareness at the state level of Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC)
  • Hiring local DMC coordinator and doing strategic planning
  • Forming a local DMC steering committee
  • Establishing a crisis intervention center
  • Training and involving police
  • Addressing underlying racial issues

The report concluded: “Tulsa County was able to decrease racial disparities at two juvenile contact points – diversion and detention – benefiting the county’s largest minority group, African America youth, as well as Hispanic and Native American youth.”*

*“Case Studies of Nine Jurisdictions that Reduced Disproportionate Minority Contact in their Juvenile Justice Systems,” Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 2014, www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/grants/250301.pdf.

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