State Lawmakers Discuss Ways To Address Juvenile Justice Issues

State lawmakers discussed the issues facing juvenile justice during an interim study at the Capitol Thursday.

Representative Amanda Swope, D-Tulsa, led the discussion before the House Children, Youth and Family Services Committee. They heard presentations from juvenile justice programs throughout the state.

"The youth justice system is underfunded, and preventative and rehabilitative services are scarce and difficult to navigate," said Jill Mencke, youth justice policy analyst at Oklahoma Policy Institute.

Swope said Thursday's discussion emphasized the need for more funding for Oklahoma's Office of Juvenile Affairs.

"Not only to provide more prevention services and things of that nature but to provide them more widely across the state," said Swope.

Another need, Swope said, is a positive influence on children.

"I think one of the largest takeaways really was the need for mentorship for young people, whether that was something that organizations were looking at as a form of prevention or early intervention or things that could be utilized to help get people back on track after their experience with the justice system," said Swope.

To create mentorship opportunities, Swope said more people need to be involved.

"Maybe even having something as simple as employers that allow time off to do that kind of volunteer work and community involvement or other types of incentives that people could get for stepping up and just being that kind of a resource for young people," Swope said.

Thursday's discussion followed a rash of recent shootings involving teens, including shootings at Choctaw High School, the Oklahoma State Fair, and near the Oklahoma County Courthouse.

Oklahoma City Police Chief Wade Gourley said the primary goal is to keep juveniles out of trouble. But for those who do commit crimes, Gourley said there should be stricter laws to hold them accountable.

"I've talked to legislators about it as well is we got to look at our statutes regarding juvenile crime," said Gourley. "And the juvenile system that has been in place for years was designed to deal with kids going into the store and stealing candy and truancy and those things. It was never designed to deal with someone who is taking a firearm and shooting at another individual and committing these violent crimes that are occurring at higher levels with juveniles."

"And a lot of times, the gangs know that - the gang members, the more senior members," Gourley added. "And they get the juveniles to do the dirty work, so to speak, and be more involved in those violent crimes because they know those penalties are not going to be as severe for them."