TILLMAN COUNTY
OKLAHOMA CITY – A measure to keep the Southwest Oklahoma Juvenile Center (SWOJC) in Manitou operating has been filed in the Legislature for consideration this year.
The 60-bed secure-care facility for boys is to be consolidated in accordance with legislation enacted in 2017, which will move all secure-care treatment for Oklahoma youth to one location, the Next Generation Campus at the Central Oklahoma Juvenile Center (COJC) in Tecumseh.
The new center, scheduled to open in fall 2022, is intended to provide secure, juvenile justice services in a setting specifically designed to provide rehabilitation for young people needing that level of care.
Senate Bill 742 by state Sen. Chris Kidd, R-Waurika, and Rep. Trey Caldwell, R-Lawton, would allow the Office of Juvenile Affairs (OJA) to continue operating the Manitou facility and contract for and/ or operate group homes of any level for OJA youth.
“Allowing OJA to continue using the Southwest Oklahoma Juvenile Center would help provide much-needed services to a wider group of young Oklahomans in need,” Kidd said. “The center is also a major employer in Tillman County, and we want to make sure that we protect those jobs by continuing to utilize the facility.”
SB 742 also would authorize the Office of Juvenile Affairs to contract with any state agency for the placement of children or young adults in their custody in any identified OJA-contracted or operated program or facility. In consultation and approval by the governor and attorney general, it also would allow OJA to contract with any tribal nation or federal agency or department for the placement of youth within their custody to reside or participate in OJA programs or facilities.
“Senator Kidd and I are doing everything in our power to continue OJA’s mission of providing a high level of care for Oklahomans in need at the Manitou facility,” Caldwell said. “We’re hopeful our colleagues will approve this bill and allow the Office of Juvenile Affairs to repurpose this facility.”
The two legislators have been working with OJA Executive Director Rachel Holt to convert the SWOJC into group homes to provide for more OJA-operated placements.
Oklahoma has approximately 20 group homes that are operated by private entities under contract with the state, Caldwell said. “Senator Kidd and I think the Manitou facility should be turned into group homes operated by the Office of Juvenile Affairs.”
Employees at the SWOJC in Manitou “have a long history of dedicated work in improving the lives and outcomes for the highest level youth in the juvenile justice system,” Holt said. “I appreciate the support and advocacy of Senator Kidd and Representative Caldwell who share my commitment to find options for the OJA staff at SWOJC to be able to continue their service to Oklahoma in a different level of programming for OJA youth, or even programs for Oklahomans in other agencies. SWOJC has deep ties to the community, and OJA appreciates the strong history of support from the community for our youth and our employees.”