OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma — In a significant move demonstrating growing concerns over child welfare, a group of vigilant citizens led by a state lawmaker initiated a legal call for greater scrutiny of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS). They have filed for a grand jury probe to examine allegations of misconduct within the agency.
At a press conference at the state Capitol, Rep. Justin “J.J.” Humphrey, alongside multiple concerned groups, expressed dissatisfaction with DHS’s efforts in protecting vulnerable children and adults. They alleged that systemic failures and unaddressed abuses necessitated the intervention of a grand jury.
The petition submitted in Oklahoma County District Court cites ten accusations against DHS and its partner entities, including failures by some agency employees to report and act on incidents of abuse. The groups involved in this effort, notably the Oklahoma State NAACP and Oklahomans for Children’s Rights, claim that routine falsification and destruction of documents by DHS staff have hidden the extent of crimes against children.
Amidst these serious charges, the DHS seems ready for transparency. Casey White, a spokesperson for the agency, affirmed their commitment to cooperate fully with any ensuing investigations, hinting at an openness to address the alleged faults internally.
Complicating matters for DHS are ongoing investigations concerning multiple infractions at two of its managed facilities: the Robert M. Greer Center in Enid and the Tulsa County Family Center for Juvenile Justice. Adding to DHS’s woes is the sudden resignation of its Executive Director, Deborah Shropshire, followed by the appointment of Jeffrey Cartmell in August.
Rep. Humphrey unflinchingly criticized the existing oversight mechanisms and appealed for more robust actions against child abuse and neglect. He spotlighted previous rejections from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to probe DHS and lamented the lack of subpoena power vested in the Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee, which he chairs.
Amidst these operational challenges, Darrell Dougherty, a concerned citizen from Stillwater who attended the news conference, expressed personal grievances with the way DHS handled a case involving his family, adding a face and story to the oft-numerical and impersonal allegations.
Responding to these developments, the office of Attorney General Gentner Drummond took notice. Drummond’s spokesman, Phil Bacharach, indicated an openness to review Humphrey’s findings.
The timing of these investigative demands coincides with DHS’s ongoing issues with Liberty of Oklahoma, the contractor at the Greer Center, embroiled in complaints of neglect and abuse. The agency faced a legislative block in its attempt to renew the Liberty contract, pointing to deeper problems within the operational confines of DHS.
In conclusion, as tensions escalate and the public outcry for accountability intensifies, Humphrey’s rallying call, “It is time the Oklahoma people take back our government,” resonates with an urgency to revitalize oversight and advocate for the voiceless.
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