Governor signs Juvenile Justice Protection Bill

OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — On Monday Govenor Stitt signed the Juvenile Justice Protection Bill into law.

This bill would protect children 12 years of age or younger from being placed in a state juvenile detention facility, unless all alternatives have been exhausted and the child is charged with an offense that would be classified as a felony if committed by an adult.

House Bill 1282, authored by State Rep. Mark Lawson was a request by the Office of Juvenile Affairs (OJA). It also sets limits for 13 and 14 year-old's admitted to detention.

The bill is part of an overall reform of the state’s juvenile justice system. It passed both chambers of the Legislature with unanimous consent.

“This bill requires the state to seek other alternatives for these children who commit adult crimes but who are much too young to be placed in detention facilities,” Lawson said.

Sen. David Rader is the Senate author of the bill.

“We know Oklahoma leads the nation in Adverse Childhood Experiences, and detaining our children can contribute to these negative experiences that can have lifelong effects on our youth,” Rader said.

Lawson and OJA agreed that detention contributes to a child’s Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), which can have a lasting and negative effect on a person throughout their lifetime.

Oklahoma children have the highest rates of ACEs in the nation.

HB 1282 also requires OJA to pay 100% of the cost for any child in OJA custody awaiting an OJA placement bed.

OJA currently pays 85% of the operating cost for every contracted bed, which historically has led to high wait times. The additional cost can be paid through unencumbered funds reserved for such expenses, according to OJA.