REPORT RELEASE: Heinous Allegations — Abuses in Youth Custody in Tulsa County, Oklahoma
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 14, 2024
Contact:
OK Appleseed
Phone: (918) 553-0424
Email: info@okappleseed.org
Website: www.okappleseed.org
OK Appleseed Releases Extensive Report on Abuses in Tulsa County Family Center for Juvenile Justice (“FCJJ”)
Tulsa, OK — OK Appleseed is announcing the release of a comprehensive report detailing serious abuses within the Tulsa County Family Center for Juvenile Justice. The report, Heinous Allegations: Abuses in Youth Custody in Tulsa County, Oklahoma, details years of systemic neglect at the Family Center for Juvenile Justice. This investigation highlights systemic issues with management, oversight, and ongoing negligence.
The report, based on extensive document reviews, reveals troubling patterns of mistreatment, inadequate mental health care, and lack of accountability. These findings are a clarion call for immediate action to ensure the safety and well-being of children in detention.
"We cannot allow these abuses to continue," said Colleen McCarty, Executive Director of OK Appleseed. "Our investigation uncovered shocking conditions that no child should ever have to endure. We call on local and state officials to implement necessary changes–up to and including temporarily closing the facility. Our children deserve better."
Key findings of the report include allegations of:
Sexual abuse by staff
Staff smuggling in marijuana, phones, and vape pens
Inadequate access to mental health services
Inadequate education
Insufficient oversight and accountability mechanisms
Youth advocates who have been tirelessly working to bring these issues to light are hopeful that this report will spur long-overdue changes.
"This report is a vital step towards justice for all the youth who have suffered in silence," said Angel Little, a justice-involved youth advocate and Board Member of OK Appleseed. "The only thing more heartbreaking than the stories we've heard is the lack of action to do something about it. With this, I believe we are strengthening our resolve in our fight for a system that treats our children with dignity, respect and understanding."
OK Appleseed urges community members, policymakers, and other stakeholders to read the full report and join the effort to reform the juvenile justice system in Tulsa County.
For more information please contact OK Appleseed at (918) 553-0424 or info@okappleseed.org. Read the report here: https://www.okappleseed.org/investigation-into-abuses-in-tulsa-county-juvenile.
About OK Appleseed
OK Appleseed is a nonprofit public interest legal center dedicated to fighting for the rights and opportunities of every Oklahoman. It promotes justice and equity through rigorous research, advocacy, and community engagement. We’re a part of the Appleseed Network.
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