§ 57-521.2. Transformational Justice Act - Transformational Justice Interagency Task Force - Revolving funds.

A.  There is hereby created until July 1, 2010, the "Transformational Justice Interagency Task Force".  The Transformational Justice Interagency Task Force shall be composed of the following members:

1.  The Director of the Department of Corrections, or a designee;

2.  The Executive Director of the Office of Juvenile Affairs, or a designee;

3.  The Attorney General, or a designee;

4.  The State Commissioner of Health, or a designee;

5.  The Director of the Department of Human Services, or a designee;

6.  The Commissioner of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, or a designee;

7.  The Presiding Judge of the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, or a designee;

8.  The Executive Coordinator of the District Attorneys Council, or a designee;

9.  The Executive Director of the Oklahoma Indigent Defense System, or a designee;

10.  Two members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives; and

11.  Two members of the Oklahoma State Senate appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.

B.  The chair shall be appointed by the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives on or before December 1, 2007.  The vice-chair shall be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma State Senate on or before December 1, 2007.  The chair shall convene the first meeting of the Task Force on or before January 1, 2008.  The members of the Task Force shall elect any other officers during the first meeting and upon a vacancy in any office.  The Task Force shall meet as often as necessary.  Task Force members employed by the state shall be reimbursed for travel expenses related to their service on the Task Force by their respective agencies pursuant to the provisions of the State Travel Reimbursement Act.  Legislative members of the Task Force shall be reimbursed for their necessary travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties in accordance with Section 456 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes.  Remaining Task Force members shall be reimbursed travel expenses related to their service on the Task Force by their appointing authorities pursuant to the provisions of the State Travel Reimbursement Act.

C.  The Transformational Justice Interagency Task Force shall:

1.  Establish goals for reducing the rate of recidivism among inmates;

2.  Coordinate the reentry programs of the state to help inmates find jobs, housing, substance abuse treatment, medical care, and mental health services;

3.  Ensure that those who supervise offenders in prison are linked to those that will supervise them after release;

4.  Identify methods to improve collaboration and coordination of reentry programs and services, including cross-training, management information systems that are accessible to partner agencies, screening procedures to assess and refer efficiently across federal, state and local boundaries, and policies and procedures that measure offender reentry management with well-defined performance-based outcomes;

5.  Seek partnerships with faith-based and community groups to provide programs and services;

6.  Identify effective evidence-based practices in reentry support, treatment and intervention programs;

7.  Encourage expansion of family-based treatment centers that offer family-based comprehensive treatment services for parents and their children as a complete family unit;

8.  Develop and establish a parenting skills program to be implemented by the Department of Corrections for inmates who are within one (1) year of being released from incarceration.  The parenting skills program shall provide education and training to develop and enhance inmate parenting skills with an emphasis on providing techniques to teach the inmate how to raise a healthier child who will be less at risk of engaging in future criminal activities;

9.  Establish collaboration among corrections and community corrections, technical schools, community colleges, and the workforce development and employment service sectors to:

a.promote, where appropriate, the employment of people released from prison and jail, through federal efforts such as educating employers about existing financial incentives and facilitate the creation of job opportunities, including transitional jobs, for this population that will benefit communities,

b.connect inmates to employment, including supportive employment and employment services, before their release to the community, and

c.address barriers to employment;

10.  Include victims in the reentry process and facilitate victim-offender dialogue when the victim is willing; and

11.  Communicate regularly with local agencies and faith-based and community groups.

D.  There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving fund for the Office of Faith-Based Initiatives to be designated the "Reintegration of Inmates Revolving Fund".  The fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal year limitations, and shall consist of monies received from appropriated funds to be used for grants to volunteer organizations including, but not limited to, faith-based organizations which provide health, educational or vocational training and programs that assist the reintegration efforts of the Reentry Policy Council.  All monies accruing to the credit of the fund are hereby appropriated and may be budgeted and expended by the Office of Faith-Based Initiatives.  Expenditures from the fund shall be made upon warrants issued by the State Treasurer against claims filed as prescribed by law with the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services for approval and payment.

E.  There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving fund for the Department of Corrections to be designated the "Transformational Justice Revolving Fund".  The fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal year limitations, and shall consist of monies received from appropriated funds to be used for bonuses to corrections officials who demonstrate improvement in recidivism rates of inmates that were previously under the custody of the Department of Corrections.  All monies accruing to the credit of the fund are hereby appropriated and may be budgeted and expended by the Department of Corrections.  Expenditures from the fund shall be made upon warrants issued by the State Treasurer against claims filed as prescribed by law with the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services for approval and payment.

F.  The Department of Corrections shall develop rules and policies which ensure that recidivism rates are included in the performance reviews, promotions and compensation adjustments of correctional officers.

Added by Laws 2007, c. 274, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 2007.  Amended by Laws 2012, c. 304, § 249.