2002: Oklahoma completed a collaborative planning process in March 2002, supported by a prior OJP planning grant. Fiscal Year 2002 grant funds were used to conduct intensive training on sex offender specific supervision and treatment, providing eight containment model workshops and six, three-day training institutes. This training helped create a consistent approach to sex offender management statewide, with particular emphasis in the state’s urban areas. An established collaborative team also worked with professional organizations statewide (prosecutors, law enforcement, criminal defense lawyers, etc.) to include information on emerging best practices regarding sex offender management into their professional development efforts. A significant research and evaluation effort was part of the project.
2000: In 2000, the State of Oklahoma had a population of approximately 3,314,200. Through a planning grant, the Department of Corrections examined and restructured its system of managing sex offenders. The department’s goals were to create more accountable treatment programs, standardize supervision practices, and raise public awareness about sex offender management. At the time of this grant, approximately 1,653 sex offenders were under community management in the state and there were no standards in place for their management. The grantee team examined other jurisdictions that had implemented successful approaches and worked to increase public understanding of sex offender management practices. The team also held local and statewide meetings to share information gleaned from national trainings and conducted focus groups around the state to explore specific issues related to sex offender management.
