Criminal Justice Reform

Greater OKC Chamber founded agency to persue reform of oklahoma county's criminal justice system.

The Criminal Justice Advisory Council of Oklahoma County (CJAC) exists to make the local justice system fairer, more efficient, and more effective for everyone. By bringing together judges, attorneys, law enforcement, nonprofit service providers, and community and business leaders, CJAC fosters the coordination and data-driven decision-making needed to drive lasting, systemic reform.

How It Started
In late 2015, the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber assembled a task force to examine Oklahoma County's long-troubled criminal justice system. Leaders from across the county contracted with the Vera Institute of Justice, the nation's preeminent criminal justice research organization, to conduct a nine-month audit of the county jail, courts, bail schedule, and law enforcement practices. Their findings revealed severe jail overcrowding and significant inefficiencies throughout the system, and produced six core recommendations for reform.

Those recommendations became CJAC's founding mission. The Vera Institute identified six priorities that continue to guide CJAC's work:

  1. Provide governance and oversight of the local justice system through a staffed coordinating council capable of data-driven decision-making.
  2. Keep people charged with lower-level offenses out of the jail entirely.
  3. Create effective, evidence-based processes for deciding who remains in jail pretrial and who goes home.
  4. Improve the processes that move cases through the court system.
  5. Create alternatives to jail for people with mental illness and/or substance use disorders.
  6. Stop jailing people who cannot afford to pay fines, fees, and court costs.

A Decade of Progress
Since its formation, CJAC has made measurable progress on each of these priorities. In the years following its launch, CJAC led efforts to expand diversion options, grow employment opportunities for justice-involved individuals, and train judges and justice officials on strategies to reduce the burden of fines and fees. By 2020, the jail population had dropped by nearly half, largely thanks to long-term changes in how low-level offenses are handled and improved resources for people leaving the jail.

The collaborative infrastructure CJAC built also proved its value during the COVID-19 pandemic. The council helped courts, law enforcement, and jail officials navigate an unprecedented crisis while maintaining transparency for county residents.

As data continually shows, fair chance hiring plays a significant role in ending cycles of criminogenic behavior. Over the past decade, CJAC has placed a heavy emphasis on helping grow employment opportunities for justice involved people, including hosting job fairs and publishing employer resources in 2021.

Today, Oklahoma County's jail population remains significantly lower than it was a decade ago, even as the county's general population has continued to grow. That trend reflects the cumulative impact of reform efforts built on evidence, partnership, and a shared commitment to smarter justice.

Leadership
In 2025, CJAC welcomed Melissa Walton as Executive Director. Walton brings more than 15 years of experience in organizational leadership, public policy, diversion programming, and justice reform. Building on the legacy of founding director Timothy Tardibono, she has pushed CJAC's mission forward with renewed energy and focus.

In 2026, Tony Tyler was elected Chair and Sanford Coats was elected Co-Chair of the council. That same year, CJAC undertook an in-depth organizational assessment to evaluate its effectiveness and identify what more may be needed to function as a high-performing coordinating council. A strategic plan is currently in development, charting CJAC's course for the years ahead.

CJAC Resources