Meet the Team: Jessie Valadez
Get to know Jessie better with our little Q&A, below, and check out her bio on our Who We Are page.What is one unexpected delight that brings you joy? I use to live near a bakery. The air smelled like freshly baked bread every morning, and I thought that was a...
Warrant Backlog Needs To Be Resolved
In the June 30 issue of the OKC Friday we wrote about an issue that significantly impacts the criminal legal landscape of Oklahoma – the staggering backlog of active warrants. With an extensive backlog of active warrants in Oklahoma County, we think it’s worth looking...
Fostering Community Safety through Violence Intervention
Adopting a more compassionate and human-centered approach to community safety is necessary now more than ever. Traditional public safety models often rely heavily on law enforcement, which may not always be the most effective or appropriate response to various...
An Inside Look at the Diversion Referral Program at OCDC
In October 2022, the Arnall Family Foundation launched the Diversion Referral Program at Oklahoma County Detention Center (OCDC). The program aims to bridge the gap between successful programs and eligible individuals, streamlining the transfer of information and...
Meet the Team: Mary Beth Buchanan
Get to know Mary Beth (she/her) better with our little Q&A, below, and check out her bio on our Who We Are page.What is one seemingly small thing that brings you joy? I love watching my husband interact with my dog, Rooney. When Austin and I first started dating,...
Roundtable on Justice and Values in Oklahoma: Examining Racial Disparities in the Criminal Legal System and Reimagining Justice in Oklahoma
This February, Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform, The Education and Employment Ministry (TEEM), in partnership with the Square One Project at Columbia University’s Justice Lab hosted the inaugural Roundtable on Justice and Values in Oklahoma: Examining Racial...
What is a medical OR and why are they important?
The term ‘medical OR’ has been mentioned in several recent conversations about the Oklahoma County Detention Center (OCDC). Interim CEO of the jail, Maj. Brandi Garner, has started reporting the number of medical ORs requested and granted in her reports to the...
Q&A with Major Garner
On December 16, 2022, the Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Authority, also known as the Jail Trust, named Maj. Brandi Garner interim CEO of the Oklahoma County Detention Center (OCDC). Garner has served as director of security at OCDC since January 2022, providing...
Meet the Team: Jenessa Cutler
Get to know Jenessa better with our little Q&A, below, and check out her bio on our Who We Are page.What is one seemingly small thing that brings you joy? Bargain or thrift shopping. There is nothing better than finding some long-lost treasure and bringing it back...