With the close of its seventh fiscal year, the Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Advisory Council (CJAC) continues to drive transformational reform across the county’s justice system. The FY25 Annual Report, released this July, highlights a year of strategic progress, deepened community partnerships and bold leadership transitions, all aimed at improving public safety and equity through data-informed, people-centered solutions. At the helm of this new chapter is Executive Director Melissa Walton, who was appointed in early 2025. Walton brings more than 15 years of experience in justice reform, diversion programming and systems strategy, having previously led Oklahoma County’s Treatment Courts and served as director of community engagement at ReMerge. Her appointment follows the tenure of founding director Timothy Tardibono, under whose leadership CJAC became a trusted convener and catalyst for reform. Walton’s arrival marks renewed momentum for CJAC, as the council continues its work advising on the development of the new Oklahoma County Detention Center and a $44 million behavioral health care facility. The report emphasizes CJAC’s focus on mental health intervention, collaborative data tools and diversion over CJAC CHARTS BOLD NEW COURSE IN JUSTICE REFORM
incarceration—especially for low-level offenses and those struggling with substance use or mental illness. Key leadership changes also included the appointment of District Attorney Vicki Behenna as CJAC chair and Chief Public Defender Brigitte Biffle as vice chair—a powerful and rare alignment from opposite ends of the justice spectrum. Together, they are poised to expand access to pretrial services, alternative sentencing and behavioral health diversion. Among CJAC’s signature accomplishments this year was the Hidden Workforce Summit, hosted in partnership with the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber. The event spotlighted “fair chance hiring,” a practice that promotes second chances for justice-involved individuals
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