OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, the vice chair of the House Public Safety Committee, today issued the following about the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. "Approximately eight years ago I exposed the murder of an inmate in the custody of the Department of Corrections. Evidence I gathered at the time shows the department likely concealed and suppressed the murder," Humphrey said. "In an effort to investigate and determine if the department is covering up murders, I gathered information on 28 deaths in approximately an eighteen-month period at one prison. Upon obtaining information on the inmate deaths, I contacted the Oklahoma Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) to ascertain how many deaths were homicides or listed as undetermined." Humphrey received information on March 18 from the OCME that shows seven of the deaths he requested information about have been ruled homicide. Four deaths were listed as accidental, one was from natural causes, three were ruled suicides, one was unknown and five are pending a final report. Seven additional names were not found in the OCME database. "I requested the Department of Corrections supply the investigations into these deaths that were listed as homicides," Humphrey said. "I will remind everyone that any person can go to the court and access information into murders. As an elected official, I am obligated to help ensure this department operates as intended. That is why I am completely appalled by the department's response. In an obvious attempt at delay, DOC took well over a month to provide reports on the seven homicides even though the reports were already completed by the OCME. "Why would it take more than a month to provide reports which were already completed? I was told it took the department that long to completely redact the reports. I think the department got itself confused with the CIA and completely blacked out much pertinent information. "Scooby-Doo would say this is a clue, and then he would say, 'Ruh-roh, Raggy! It seems ardently clear the department of corruption has something to hide."
OKLAHOMA CITY – Two measures authored by Rep. Danny Sterling, R-Tecumseh, aimed at improving educational access for justice-involved youth and strengthening child protection laws, have officially been signed into law. House Bill 1940 , signed by Gov. Kevin Stitt on May 9, modifies charter school sponsorship provisions to allow the Statewide Charter School Board to sponsor charter schools when the applicant is the Office of Juvenile Affairs (OJA) or is contracted with OJA. The bill is designed to expand educational services to youth in the custody or supervision of county juvenile justice systems. The new law will take effect July 1. “This legislation helps ensure that youth under county or state supervision don’t fall through the cracks when it comes to education,” Sterling said. “By enabling the Statewide Charter School Board to work directly with OJA, we’re creating more opportunities for academic support and rehabilitation.” House Bill 1935 , which became law without the governor’s signature on May 8, updates the statute of limitations for the failure to report abuse or neglect. The bill stipulates that legal action must be initiated by the victim’s 45th birthday, allowing survivors more time to seek justice. The measure takes effect Nov. 1. “Delays in reporting abuse are common, especially when the victim is a child,” Sterling said. “Many survivors don’t fully understand what happened to them until years later, or they may be afraid to speak out due to trauma, fear of retaliation or lack of support." According to the American Society of for the Positive Care of Children , 89% of victims are maltreated by one or both parents. "We know that, in many cases, children are reluctant to speak out because they don’t want to 'bite the hand that feeds them', especially when the neglect or abuse is coming from a parent or caregiver", Sterling said. "This change recognizes those challenges and gives survivors a more realistic window of time to process their experiences and pursue justice. It’s about creating a legal system that reflects compassion and understanding of the long-term impacts of abuse.” Sterling, a longtime advocate for youth services and public education, said both bills reflect ongoing efforts to better serve vulnerable populations across Oklahoma.
A pro-family measure streamlining the adoption process for immediate relatives while protecting children will take effect later this year. Rep. Erick Harris, R-Edmond, authored House Bill 2647 , which establishes clear provisions on when a court can waive preplacement home studies. It also expands the eligibility for these waivers to include immediate relatives, including siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles, of the child. The bill is named after Harris' 13-year-old constituent Shai Cooper, who is adopted. Under the Shai Cooper Act, immediate relatives could apply for a home study waiver if they have been married for at least one year, have no felony convictions and have no protection orders against them. Single immediate relatives may apply for a waiver as well. "The unanimous, bipartisan support behind the Shai Cooper Act shows just how committed the Legislature is to protecting children while making it easier for loving relatives to provide a safe, permanent home," Harris said. "I'm incredibly proud to see this bill, inspired by my constituent Shai Cooper, become law and make a real difference for families across Oklahoma." HB2647 was carried in the Senate by Sen. Kristen Thompson, R-Edmond. "The enactment of the Shai Cooper Act marks a significant step forward in our commitment to Oklahoma's children and families," Thompson said. "By allowing courts to waive preplacement home studies for qualified relatives, we are removing unnecessary barriers that delay permanent, loving placements. This law honors the legacy of Shai Cooper and reflects our dedication to prioritizing the best interests of our most vulnerable citizens." The Shai Cooper Act passed both chambers unanimously and became law without the governor's signature. It takes effect on Nov. 1.