>> IT'S NOT IN YOUR BOOK BAG.

IT'S FROM THE MORNING BELL UNTIL THE BELL RINGS TO GO HOME.

IT IS NOT ON YOUR PERSON.

>> HOW THE FUTURE PROGRAM IS HELPING STUDENTS LEARN HOW TO LEAD SUCCESSFUL LIVES.

>> WE'VE GOT COACHES WHO WILL TE THAN JUST THE SPORT.

>> THIS IS WHERE HE WANTED IT AND ALL CITIZENS THAT WANT TO COME AND SEE IT.

>> AN IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION ON VIOLENCE IN OUR STATE PRISONS.

>> WE'RE LOOKING FOR NEW WAYS AND LEVERAGE TECHNOLOGY TO MAKE THINGS SAFER, TO BRING MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO OUR INMATES.

>> THEY'RE DOING THE BEST THEY CAN WITH THE SITUATION THEY'VE BEEN GIVEN.

>> THOSE STORIES, PLUS NEW ART PROJECTS NEXT ON "THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

>> Rich: WELCOME TO "THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

APRIL WILKINS IS AN INMATE IN MCCLOUD, OKLAHOMA.

THIS MAY ENHANCE HER CHANCES OF RECEIVING A REDUCED SENTENCE FOR A VIOLENT CRIME COMMITTING IN THE THROES OF AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP.

JASON DOYLE HAS BEEN GRANTED RARE ACCESS AND HE JOINS US NOW.

>> RICH, THAT NEW LAW IS CALLED "THE OKLAHOMA SURVIVOR's ACT" AND WENT INTO PLACE AT THE END OF AUGUST.

SHE'S SERVING A LIFE SENTENCE SHE'S ASKING FOR MERCY UNDER THE NEW LAW AND I WANT TO WARN OUR VIEWERS WHAT YOU WILL HEAR.

IT'S PRETTY DISTURBING.

>> NICE TO MEET YOU.

THIS IS JASON DOYLE.

>> THANK YOU FOR COMING.

>> APRIL IS 27 YEARS INTO A LIFE SENTENCE FOR KILLING HER EX-FIANCE.

>> HE WAS THREATENING TO KILL ME AND SODOMIZE ME.

I COULD NOT STOP FIRING UNTIL, YOU KNOW, THE GUN WAS EMPTY.

>> SHE SHOT CARLTON WITH EIGHT ROUNDS AND BEFORE THEN, SHE CONSIDERED HERSELF A TYPICAL SHAWLTOWN WOMAN.

>> I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN OKLAHOMA AND LIVED AND GREW UP IN A SMALL TOWN RIGHT OUTSIDE OF TULSA, ABOUT A POPULATION OF A THOUSAND.

IT HAS FEWER PEOPLE THAN NAVAL BASS SET.

>> SHE ATTENDED COLLEGE AT OKLAHOMA UNIVERSITY AND STUDIED PROSTHETICS IN CHICAGO.

>> I DID MY RESIDENCY AND WAS PRACTICING AND HELPING PEOPLE WHO HAD LOST THEIR LIMBS RECOVER, YOU KNOW, MAKING ARMS AND LEGS FOR THEM.

>> IT WAS DURING THAT TIME SHE MET TERRY CARLTON.

>> I MET TERRY IN 1995 AND I WAS SHOPPING FOR A CAR AT AN AUTO DEALERSHIP HE AND HIS FAMILY OWNED IN TULSA.

HE WAS 12 YEARS MY SENIOR.

I WAS 25 AND HE WAS 37.

>> IN THE BEGINNING, THINGS WERE GOING WELL FOR THE BUDDING COUPLE.

>> HE WAS SO CHARMING AND, YOU KNOW, SAID ALL THE RIGHT THINGS AND HAD ALL OF THE RIGHT MOVES AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST -- THIS WAS BEFORE WE COULD GOOGLE.

I HAD NO IDEA AT THE TIME THAT TWO WOMEN PRIOR FOLLOWED PROTECTIVE ORDERS AGAINST HIM.

>> LATER THAT YEAR, A PROPOSAL.

>> AND I WAS ELATED AND SAID YES.

I THOUGHT I'LL HAVE MY HAPPILY EVER AFTER.

SHORTLY THEREAFTER IS WHEN THE VERBAL ABUSE AND THE CONTROLLING NATURE STARTED COMING OUT.

IT SEEMED LIKE I COULD DO NOTHING RIGHT.

>> AND THEN THINGS TURNED VIOLENT.

>> THE FIRST TIME HE PHYSICALLY PUT HIS HANDS ON ME WAS MY BIRTHDAY IN 1996, I WAS 26, AND HE GRABBED MY THROAT AND THEN, YOU KNOW, IT JUST GOT WORSE FROM THERE.

>> UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA PROFESSOR DR. DAVID HEALTHCARE s RESEARCH SAYS IT DOESN'T START WITH HITTING LIKE CONTROL AND MANIPULATION LIKE TAKING SOMEONE's CAR KEYS TO STOP THEM FROM LEAVING OR ISOLATING THEM FROM LEAVING.

>> ONLY WHEN THOSE TACTICS DON'T WORK DOES THE ABUSER RESORT TO ESCALATING THEIR RESPONSE TO ILLICIT THE BEHAVIORAL CONTROL.

>> MCCLOUD DISCOVERED 65% OF WOMEN INCARCERATED IN THE OKLAHOMA SYSTEM WERE EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC ABUSE AT THE TIME OF THEIR ARREST AND FOUND THAT IN OKLAHOMA, WOMEN WHO BECOME JUST AS INVOLVED TEND TO RECEIVE HARSHER PUNISHMENTS.

>> THERE'S A CONCEPT WITH CRIMINOLOGISTS CALLED BENEVOLANT SEXISM AND MANIFESTS IN COURT SYSTEMS AROUND THE UNITED STATES.

IF A MAN AND WOMAN WERE CHARGED, THE MAN WOULD TEND TO GET A HIGHER SENTENCE.

IN OKLAHOMA, IT'S REVERSED.

AND SO, IF A MAN AND WOMAN ARE CHARGED WITH THE SAME THING HERE, WE SEE THAT THE WOMAN CAN BE PUNISHED MORE HARSHLY.

>> IT'S VERY CONFUSING AND VERY NON-CONSISTENT.

THEY'VE NEVER HAD THAT LOGICAL CONSISTENCY ABOUT WHY WHEN SOMEONE HURTS ME, IT DOESN'T MATTER AND IT DOESN'T IMPACT ANYTHING ABOUT THEIR LIFE.

BUT WHEN I HURT SOMEONE OR DO SOMETHING WRONG, I'M PUNISHED 20 TIMES HARDER.

>> COLLEEN MCCARDY IS THE OKLAHOMA DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE.

THE ORGANIZATION REPRESENTS WILKINS AND OTHERS AS THEY FILE FOR SENTENCING RELIEF UNDER THE SURVIVOR's ACT.

SHE SAID WILKINS WENT TO THE POLICE SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THIS BUT THE JURY BELIEVED IT WAS AN ACT OF PREMEDITATED MURDER.

>> SHE ADMITTED IT WAS DONE TO SAVE HER LIFE AND SELF-DEFENSE.

I BELIEVE IT WAS RUN-OF-THE-MILL SELF-DEFENSE.

>> SO MUCH EVIDENCE THAT DIDN'T COME OUT FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER AT TRIAL AND I WAS CONVICTED.

I WAS SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON.

>> WHAT WAS IT LIKE?

>> IT WAS LIKE DROWNING.

>> FOR YEARS, HERE AT THE CORRECTIONAL CENTER, APRIL HAS BEEN TRYING TO GET THE JUSTICE SYSTEM TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT HER CASE.

NOW THAT THE OKLAHOMA SURVIVOR's ACT HAS PASSED, SHE'S HOPEFUL.

>> TO BE RIGHT THERE WHERE WE'RE GETTING READY TO DO IT, ABSOLUTELY EXCITING.

EXTREMELY HOPEFUL.

>> WE FILED FOR HER ON OCTOBER 29th, 2024, A 500 PAGE APPLICATION.

>> MEMBERS OF THE CARLTON FAMILY HAVE SHOWN THEY BELIEVE WILKINS SHOULD SERVE OUT HER LIFE SENTENCE AND HAVE ATTENDED EVERY PATROL HEARINGS.

ON TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP IN THE PROCESS.

>> ADVOCACY GROUPS EDUCATE GROUPS ON THE NEW LAW.

>> WITH THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR, WE'LL BE EDUCATING GROUPS THAT MAY HAVE HAD ACCESS IN THAT WAY OR CLIENTS THAT WE KNOW HAVE EXISTING RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM AND TO EDUCATE THEM AND THEN SOME OF THEM ALREADY KNOW AND HAVE BEEN A PART OF THE PROCESS.

>> FOR THOSE WHO WORK TO PASS THE LEGISLATION LIKE ALEXANDRIA BAILEY WITH THE SENTENCING PROJECT, IT'S REWARDING TO SEE CASES LIKE APRIL WILKINS AND OTHERS MOVE FORWARD.

>> I'M ACTUALLY PROUD THAT OKLAHOMA IS LEADING THE WAY ON THIS.

FOR A STATE LIKE OKLAHOMA TO LEAD THE WAY ON THIS HAS MASSIVE RIPPLES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND IT HAS MASSIVE RIPPLES WITHS IS TO MEET HER 6-YEAR-OLD GRANDDAUGHTER.

>> THE PROCESS WILL UNFOLD OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS ALONG WITH OTHER CASES WHICH QUALIFY.

BY THE WAY, THE OKLAHOMA DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT HOTLINE IS 800522-SAFE.

IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW NEEDS HELP.

>>> ON FRIDAY MORNING, THE OKLAHOMA PARDON PATROL BOARD TOOK UP THE CLEMENCY HEARING FOR KEVIN UNDERWOOD.

THEY HEARD TESTIMONY FROM STATE PROSECUTORS AND SUPPORTERS FROM UNDERWOOD.

IN THE VOTE, CLEMENCY WAS DENIED.

UNDERWOOD IS SCHEDULED TO BE EXECUTED ON DECEMBER 19th.

>> THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS IS TOUTING A SHARP REDUCTION IN VIOLENT CRIMES IN STATE FACILITIES.

MANY PEOPLE THERE'S A LONG WAY TO GO TO MAKE OKLAHOMA PRISONS AND JAILS SAFE.

THAT'S THE FOCUS OF IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION WITH CASSIDY MUDD.

>> WE'VE HAD ONE OF THE HIGHEST PER CAPITA INCARCERATION RATES FOR STATE PRISONS FOR THE LAST MORE THAN A DECADE.

THAT, MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE, PUTS A BURDEN ON CORRECTION STAFF, ON THOSE OFFICERS WHO ARE HAVING TO PROVIDE SAFETY IN THOSE ENVIRONMENTS.

>> IT'S A DIFFERENT PROFESSION AND IT'S NOT FOR EVERYBODY, BUT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, DOING WHAT WE CAN TO GET MORE PEOPLE IN.

AS FAR AS THE OVERCROWDING, THAT'S OUTSIDE OF OUR CONTROL AND WE DEAL WITH WHAT'S IN FRONT OF US, WHO WE GET AND THE STAFF THAT WE CAN PUT IN THE FACILITIES.

>> THE REST OF THAT CONVERSATION LATER IN THIS NEWSCAST.

>>> AS OF NOW, FIVE STATES HAVE BAN THE USE OF CELL PHONES IN CLASSROOMS, CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA, INDIANA, LOUISIANA AND SOUTH CAROLINA.

OKLAHOMA TRIED TO PASS LEGISLATION TO DO SO IN THE LAST SESSION BUT FAILED.

HOWEVER, LAWMAKERS MAY TRY AGAIN NEXT YEAR.

WITH MORE ON THAT, WE'RE JOINED BY STEVE SHAW.

STEVE?

>> RICH, THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT BANNING STUDENT CELL PHONES FROM CLASSROOMS.

IT'S ABOUT BANNING STUDENT's CELL PHONES FROM INSIDE SCHOOLS.

THERE ARE COMPELLING ARGUMENTS ON BOTH SIDES.

WITH 3500 STUDENTS JINX IS ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE STATE.

THEIR POLICY IS THEY MUST BE TURNED OFF OR PUT AWAY, WHETHER IT BE A BOOK BAG OR PANT's POCKET.

>> I THINK IT'S THE PERFECT BALANCE BETWEEN HAVING YOUR PHONE FOR SAFETY MEASURES SINCE WE HAVE A BIG AND LARGE CAMPUS AND SOMETIMES YOU'RE LEAVING TO GO AND I THINK IT'S REALLY GOOD THAT WE HAVE THAT POLICY IN PLACE.

>> JINX SAYS THAT STUDENTS WANT THEIR CELL PHONES NEARBY FOR EMERGENCIES.

>> YOU DON'T WANT TO BE, YOU KNOW, 20 FEET, LIKE, ALL THE WA.

YOU DON'T WANT YOUR PHONE ACROSS SCHOOL WHEN YOUR PARENT MIGHT BE IN THE HOSPITAL OR MAYBE YOU NEED TO FIND A RIDE HOME AND THEN HOW WILL YOU DO THAT WHENEVER YOUR PHONE IS LOCKED AWAY, YOU KNOW?

>> 20 YEARS AGO, THERE WERE NO CELL PHONES.

>> YEAH, THAT IS TRUE, BUT JUST WITH THE HOW THE WORLD IS TODAY, IT'S CHANGING AND EVERYBODY HAS A CELL PHONE.

>> JINX IS ONE OF THE SCHOOLS GOVERNOR STITT VISITED A MONTH AGO AND RESTRICTING CELL PHONE USE.

THEY SAY TWO WEEKS AGO THEY MET WITH NEARLY HALF OF THE SUPERINTENDENTS OF THE 520 SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE AND SAYS A MAJORITY SUPPORTS A STATEWIDE BAN OF STUDENT CELL PHONES IN SCHOOLS FROM THE FIRST BELL IN THE MORNING UNTIL THE LAST CLASS ENDS EACH AFTERNOON.

>> WHICH MEANS THIS IS NOT YOUR BOOK BAG.

IT'S FROM THE MORNING BELL UNTIL THE BELL RINGS TO GO HOME, IT IS NOT ON YOUR PERSON.

SO DIFFERENT DISTRICTS SAID IT CAN BE IN YOUR LOCKER BUT WHAT WE FOUND IN THE DATA FROM DISTRICTS THAT DID THIS SUCCESSFULLY, WHEN IT'S ACCESSIBLE TO A STUDENT, THERE'S STILL THE DISTRACTION THERE.

>> THE DING, THE LITTLE NOISES THAT IT MAKES.

STILL IN THE BACK OF THAT STUDENT's MIND, OH, DID SOMEBODY JUST SEND ME A MESSAGE OR POST SOMETHING ABOUT ME?

>> JIXN HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR DOTER DOESN'T AGREE.

>> I AS A STUDENT WOULD NOT LIKE MY CELL PHONE TAKEN AWAY EVERY DAY.

I UNDERSTAND NOT HAVING IT OUT DURING THE CLASS, BUT I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD NOT HAVE IT DURING PASSING PERIODS OR LUNCHES.

>> WHY?

>> MY SOPHOMORE YEAR MY MOM WAS IN THE ICU AND MY CELL PHONE WAS AN IMPORTANT DEVICE TO BE IN COMMUNICATION.

>> A LIFE LIFE.

LINE.

>> WITH MY DAD.

ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WHEN I SAID THIS IN OUR DISCUSSION WITH THE SENATOR AND GOVERNOR, WAS, WELL, WHY DON'T THEY SEND NOTES FROM THE OFFICE?

MY RESPONSE WAS, WELL, IF YOU GET A NOTE FROM THE OFFICE AND YOU'RE NOT IN CLASS, IT'S PUSHED OFFICE TO YOUR NEXT PERIOD.

>> THE FRESHMAN ACADEMY PRINCIPAL LUKE GRAY SAYS SUCH A BAN COULD BE PROBLEMATIC.

>> I THINK THAT WOULD HAVE IMPLICATIONS THAT OUR FAMILIES WOULDN'T LIKE OR STUDENTS WOULDN'T LIKE AND WE WANT A POLICY THAT'S ENFORCEABLE.

>> CHAD CALDWELL REPRESENTS ENID IN THE STATE HOUSE AND PLANS TO FILE A HOUSE VERSE OF THE STATEWIDE SCHOOL CELL PHONE BILL BY THE END OF JANUARY.

>> WELL, I THINK, LOOK, AS YOU CAN TELL BY THE GRAY HAIR, I WENT TO SCHOOL IN A TIME THERE WASN'T CELL PHONES AND WE SEEMED TO DO OK.

IF IT'S A TRUE EMERGENCY, MOM OR DAD WILL BE ABLE TO GET AHOLD OF STUDENT BY CALLING THE SCHOOL IF THEY NEED TO.

I HAVE THREE TEENAGERS OF MY OWN AND WHAT WE FIND IS WHAT WE LIKE TO CLASSIFY AS EMERGENCIES AREN'T EMERGENCIES.

>> CALDWELL SAYS SIMILAR CELL PHONE BANS, BIXBY, HONONY AND WARNER HAVE BEEN EYE-OPENING.

>> WE'LL HAVE TO CHANGE OUR CULTURE.

WE'RE USED TO BEING IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION.

>> EDMONDS MIRRORS JINX AND WELCOMES INPUT.

>> I HOPE WHATEVER THEY WRITE STILL ALLOWS FOR LOCAL CONTROL BECAUSE DISTRICTS ARE SO DIFFERENT ACROSS THE STATE.

>> DAVIS IS DIRECTOR OF SECONDARY EDUCATION FOR EDMOND SCHOOLS.

>> WHAT IS IT THAT THESE KIDS WANT THEIR CELL PHONES CLOSEBY.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF PSYCHOLOGY OF HAVING THAT DOPAMINE CLOSE BY.

OVER TIME, THERE'S RESEARCH THAT SHOWS ONCE THEY'RE ACCUSTOMED TO NOT HAVING IT, THEY CAN BE MORE FOCUSED AND PRESENT.

>> THE DATA IS OVERWHELMING THAT WHEN THE CELL PHONE WAS REMOVED FROM THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, THERE WAS THE ACADEMIC ASPECT OF THIS, BUT THERE'S THIS WHOLE PERSONAL SIDE, YOU KNOW, THAT IS TO SOME DEGREE MAYBE MORE IMPORTANT, RIGHT?

HOW YOU HAVE STUDENTS INTERACTING WITH EACH OTHER.

WE HAD ONE SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT IMPLEMENTED THIS AND TESTIFIED AT THE INTERIM STUDY THAT THEY HEARD LAUGHTER IN THE HALLWAYS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN A DECADE.

>> THE SENATOR SAYS HE'S LIVING THIS RIGHT NOW.

HIS 13-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER DOES NOT HAVE A CELL PHONE AND HE HEARS ABOUT IT DAILY.

BUT HE SAYS IT'S FOR THE GREATER GOOD.

RICH?

>> Rich: STEVE, THANKS A LOT.

ONE WAY TO KEEP KIDS FROM STARING ON THEIR CELL PHONES IS GETTING THEM ON A PLAYING FIELD BY NOT IF IT'S IN POOR CONDITION.

TAELYR JACKSON JOINS US WITH FIELDS AND FUTURES.

>> ACCORDING TO THE OKLAHOMA CITY DIRECTOR, BUILT-IN FUTURES PLAYS A BIG ROLE IN IMPROVING ACADEMIC OUTCOME.

IN MOST TOWNS ACROSS THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA, HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY.

WITH YOUNG THREATS PRACTICING ON WELL MANICURED FOOTBALL AND SOCCER FIELDS AND BASKETBALL COURTS BUT THAT WASN'T ALWAYS THE CASE FOR THE OKLAHOMA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

>> JUST THE PERCEPTION THAT THE OKLAHOMA CITY WAS POOR AND NOT GOOD PLAYING FIELDS.

>> BUT THANKS TO A LOCAL NONPROFIT, THINGS BEGAN TO CHANGE.

THIS WAS FOUNDED WITH A SIMPLE MISSION TO RESTORE ATHLETIC FIELDS IN THE OKLAHOMA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT.

>> OUR FOUNDER AND HIS WIFE, LIZ, TOOK THE FOUNDATION BUS TOUR SHOWING OFF THE STATE OF DISREPAIR IN THE DISTRICT, THESE PLAYING FACILITIES THAT WERE UNSAFE.

THEY'RE BASICALLY ABANDONED FIELDS, OVERGROWN GRASS, WEEDS AND PLANTS, BRANCHES AND TREES, ABANDONED TIRES AND GLASS.

>> THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SAYS THAT TOUR SPARKED THE CREATION OF THE NONPROFIT.

>> AT THAT POINT, IT WAS BIRTHED TO CREATE FUTURES AND FIELDS TO FLIP THE FIELDS TO MAKE THEM NOT ONLY PLAYING BUT A SENSE OF PRIDE FOR THE STUDENTS AND COMMUNITIES IN THE OKLAHOMA PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> THE FIRST PROJECT WAS JEFFERSON MIDDLE SCHOOL.

>> THIS WAS NOT A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR KIDS OR PATRONS.

>> THEY WENT ON RENOVATE 60 FIELDS.

THE NEW FIELDS HAVE HAD QUITE AN IMPACT.

CONTACT TO A 2018 SURVEY, LIVE FIELDS AND FUTURES, 91% ATTENDING THE MIDDLE SCHOOL WERE MORE MOTIVATED TO ATTEND SCHOOL WHEN PARTICIPATING IN TEAM SPORTS.

SINCE THE INCEPTION IN 2012, THE ORIGINAL VISION IS HELPING THEM GROW BY ADVOCATING FOR THE PROGRAM.

THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR EDDIE WRIGHT SAYS THE ORGANIZATION's EFFORTS HAVE HELPED THE DISTRICT's PROGRAM TO DEVELOP.

>> THIS CROSS COUNTRY IS UP OVER 400% SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE.

WE NEED MORE ASSISTANT COACHES AND WE'VE DONE THAT IN OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND PUTTING MORE MENTORS AND ADULTS IN THEIR LIFE.

>> SPORTS TEACH MORE THAN HEALTHY HABITS BUT TEACHES DISCIPLINE AND TIME MANAGEMENT TO HELP THEM TO BECOME BETTER CITIZENS IN SOCIETY.

>> YOU KNOW, IT TEACHES THEM TO WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM.

RIGHT NOW, THE THREE OF US ARE WORKING TOGETHER AS A TEAM.

IT'S A LIFE-LONG SKILL TO BUILD THROUGH SPORT AND CAN BUILD ADVOCATES THAT WAY.

WE HAVE COACHES TO LOVE ON THEM AND CARE MORE THAN JUST ABOUT THE SPORT, BUT THEIR ACADEMICS AND HOME LIFE AND SO MUCH THAT SPORTS DOES TO MAKE THE WHOLE PERSON.

ONCE THEY GRADUATE, OUR JOB IS NOT TO CREATE WINNERS AND LOSERS BUT BETTER HUSBANDS, FATHERS AND MOTHERS AND WIFE.

>> THIS PROFESSOR IS A CONSULTANT FOR FIELDS AND FUTURES AND HIS EXPERTISE IS PREDICTING BEHAVIOR.

TEAM SPORTS ARE ALL ABOUT BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PLAYERS AND COACHES.

>> WE RECOGNIZE THAT IT'S THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT KEEP THESE KIDS THERE.

SPORTS, GREAT.

I LOVE SPORTS.

BUT RELATIONSHIPS AND DOING SOMETHING TOGETHER, FINDING A WAY TO BE SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

BE BIGGER, BE MORE AND THE BEST OF YOURSELF.

AND WE KNEW THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT MENTORSHIP, HAVING A CARING ADULT IN THERE WAS A REALLY IMPORTANT THING.

>> THE RESEARCH SHOWS THAT STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATED IN SPORTS ALSO DID BETTER ACADEMICALLY.

>> WE SAW KIDS THAT PLAYED SPORTS IN OKLAHOMA CITY HAD HIGHER GPA's, MORE LIKELY TO BE IN HONOR CLASSES AND CONCURRENT CLASSES.

WE FOUND THAT ON A COUPLE OF VARIABLES THAT WERE CAPTURING RESILIENCE, IN PARTICULAR, THAT THEY'RE MORE RESILIENT TO ADVERSITY.

>> MCCLOUD KNOWS THE IMPACT SPORTS CAN HAVE ON A STUDENT's LIFE.

>> SPORTS TO ME WAS AN INTRODUCTION TO EDUCATION AND KEPT ME OUT OF CERTAIN PROBLEMS THAT WERE VERY TYPICAL FROM MY FRIENDS GROWING UP.

IT KEPT ME OUT OF GANG ACTIVITY AND ALL THESE OTHER NEGATIVE LIFE TRAJECTORIES I'VE WATCHED PEOPLE I'VE BEEN FRIENDS WITH SINCE EARLY CHILDHOOD FALL INTO.

AND SPORT TO ME WAS AN INCREDIBLE ASSET LATER ON IN LIFE, TOO, BECAUSE I JUST FELT SO MUCH RESILIENCE AND THE ABILITY TO OVERCOME OBSTACLES AND THE GRIT AND NOT QUITTING.

>> THE OKLAHOMA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT's GOAL IS TO EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES FOR MORE STUDENTS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE STUDENTS OF PARTICIPATING IN ATHLETICS.

>> TRYING TO CREATE PROGRAMMING OPPORTUNITIES SO THAT THE KIDS HAVE A PLACE TO COME AND PARTICIPATE AND WE'RE TRYING TO GET AS MANY PARTICIPANTS AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE IT LEADS TO GRADUATION RATES AND MORE ATTENDANCE, BETTER ATTENDANCE AND BETTER GRADES.

THEREFORE, LEADING TO A CAREER PATH AFTER SCHOOL IS OVER.

>> AS OF JUNE 2024, FIELDS AND FUTURE HAS COMPLETED 20 PROJECTS IN THE METRO.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE, VISIT FIELDS&FUTURES.ORG.

>> Rich: THE RAPID FALL OF THE BASHARal-ASSAD REGIME IN SYRIA AND PROFESSOR LANDIS OF THE STUDY's ASSOCIATION SAYS THE REIGN MAY HAVE ENDED BECAUSE OF THE SANCTIONS IMPROVE SANCTIONINGS IMPOSED ONSYRIA.

>> THE U.S.

TOOK SYRIA's OIL AND USED IT TO FUND THE KURDISH PROXY FORCE.

THE UNITED STATES EARNS ONE THIRD OF SYRIA AND THEY WOULD FUND ONE HALF OF THE SYRIAN BUDGET BEFORE THE CIVIL WAR.

SO BY AMERICA TAKING THEM AWAY AND PUTTING SYRIA ON STRICT SANCTIONS, THE COUNTRY BECAME PEARER AND POORER.

>> Rich: THEY DREW SUPPORT FROM THE Al-ASAAD REGIME.

>>> THE MUSEUM SET TO OPEN IN 2016 IS QUITE A BIT SMALLER THAN THE ORIGINAL FACILITY DEMOLISHED TWO YEARS AGO, BUT THE BUILDERS SAY IN THIS CASE, BIGGER ISN'T NECESSARILY BETTER.

NOAH MACK JOINS US WITH WHAT HE SAW.

>> YEAH, RICH, THE NEW BUILDING IS A 43,000 SQUARE FEET DOWNSIZED FROM THE LAST LOCATION.

TECHNICALLY, IT ACCOMMODATES THE COLLECTIONS OF THE WESTERN ARTS IN THE STATES.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> THE CITY OF TULSA CELEBRATES THE COMPLETION OF A BRAND NEW COMPLETION FOR THE MUSEUM SET TO HOUSE THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF NATIVE ART ASIDE FROM THE U.S. GOVERNMENT.

DONORS, CITY OFFICIALS WERE INVITED TO THE SITE FOR A RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY AND SCHEDULED TOURS FOR THE 90,000 SQUARE FOOT INTERIOR.

>> I CAN'T WAIT FOR EVERYBODY TO GET IN THERE AND SEE IT AND APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT THEY DID IN DESIGNING SOMETHING THAT PROVIDES MORE EXHIBIT SPACE ON A SMALLER FOOTPRINT, TAKING IN THE BEAUTIFUL MA JESS INDUSTRY OF M. BECAUSE OF COMPLICATION WITH TEMPERATURE REGULATION, THEY DECIDED TO DEMOLISH THIS AND BUILD THE NEW SITE.

>> THAT WAS A MONUMENTAL DECISION BECAUSE WE HAD TO SAY GOODBYE TO A LOT OF OUR PAST.

THE OLD MUSEUM IS AN ENSEMBLE OF FIVE OR SIX DIFFERENT BUILDINGS THAT JUST KEPT GETTING ADDED ON TO.

>> THIS IS STORED AT AN UNDISCLOSED LOCATION.

PHIL LAKE AND COUNCIL MEMBER FOR THE EIGHTH DISTRICT SAYS MOVING THE COLLECTION INTO THE NEW LOCATION WILL BE A LENGTHY PROCESS.

>> SO, EVIDENTLY, THE GASES THAT COME THERE PAINT AND OTHER THINGS INSIDE THIS BUILDING AND MOISTURE OUT OF THE CONCRETE AND SO THAT ALL HAS TO BE LEFT UNDISTURBED FOR PROBABLY NINE MONTHS BEFORE WE CAN PUT ANY ARTWORK BACK IN.

>> THE COLLECTION INCLUDES MORE THAN 350,000 ITEMS.

MANY OF THEM ICONIC NATIVE AMERICAN PIECES.

MARLA MILLER, DIRECTOR AT THE MUSEUM SAYS THIS MUSEUM WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE OSAGE NATION TO BRING TO LIFE INDIGENOUS STORIES.

>> WE BRING TOGETHER THE CONTINUITY AND IMPORTANCE AND Mr. GILCREASE AND HIS ENVISIONS TO AMASS A GREATER COLLECTION OF AMERICAN ART THAT BROUGHT TOGETHER INDIGENOUS COLLECTIONS AND INDIGENOUS COLLECTION WITH AMERICAN HISTORY.

>> MARLA SAYS THIS MUSEUM HAS BEEN A PART OF HER LIFE SINCE SHE'S BEEN A LITTLE KID.

>> I HAD A GREAT FORTUNE IN MY LIFE.

MY AUNT LIVED ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE MUSEUM AND SO WHEN I WAS A KID, I WOULD COME OVER HERE AND SPEND TIME HERE AND I HAVE TO SAY THOSE FORMATIVE YEARS, IT WAS MEANINGFUL TO ME AND THAT SPIRIT AND DEPTH AND RICHNESS AND COLLECTION, IT SHINES THROUGH IN THE SPACES AND WITH THE PEOPLE.

>> THE COLLECTION WAS ACCUMULATED BY OIL TYCOON THOMAS GILCREASE, ECHOED THROUGHOUT THE CEREMONY.

>> I LOVE THAT AS WE THINK ABOUT WHO WE ARE AND THE STORY HE'S TELLING.

SO JUST THAT MOTION OF STORY-TELLING LOOMS LARGE IN MY THINKING.

THIS BUILDING HAS A GREAT STORY.

>> AND TO REPRESENT THE FAMILY, THOMAS GILCREASE-DENNY, GRANDSON, ATTENDED THE RIBBON CUTTING.

>> THIS IS WHERE HE WANTED IT ON THE HILL, FOR THE CITIZENS OF TULSA, OKLAHOMA AND ALL THAT WANT TO SEE IT.

>> THE BUILDING OVERLOOKED THE HILLS AND RIGHT ACROSS THE GRASS LOT SITS A PIECE OF THE FAMILY's HISTORY.

, THOMAS's OLD HOUSE.

FORMER TULSA MAYBE BYNUM REMEMBERS MEETING MEMBERS AT THE MUSEUM.

>> THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I GOT TO KNOW THE FAMILY AND IT WAS JUST SURREAL WALKING THROUGH THAT MUSEUM, HEARING THEM TALK ABOUT THEIR GRANDFATHER AND BEING IN THAT HOUSE WHEN IT WAS HIS HOUSE, HUNTING ON THOUGH THE GROUNDS WHEN THEY WOULD VISIT HIM.

AND I ENJOYED HEARING ABOUT PICKING UP THE PRICELESS PIECES OF ART.

>> BEING BACK ON HIS GRANDFATHER's PROPERTY OVER 60 YEARS AFTER HIS DEATH MEANT ALL THE MEMORIES CAME FLOODING BACK.

>> I WAS ONLY 11 WHEN HE PASSED IN 1962.

I SPENT MOST OF THE SUMMER IN 1961 HERE AND HAVE FOND MOMENTARIES OF HIM.

MEMORIES.

>> THEY PLAN TO HOST SEVERAL EVENTS IN 2025 IN ANTICIPATION FOR THAT GRAND OPENING IN THE FALL OF 2026.

>> Rich: CAN'T WAIT FOR IT.

THANK YOU.

AND THERE'S NEW ART ON DISPLAY AT THE STATE CAPITOL THROUGH 2026.

ALL OF IT INSPIRED BY THE OKLAHOMA STATE BRAND.

THE WORKS INCLUDE A QUILT, A BEADED COLLAR NECKLACE AND RIBBON SKIRT RUNNER.

CHECK IT OUT NEXT TO THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR's OFFICE.

MORE ART TO THE CITY OF EDMOND, OKLAHOMA.

THE UNCOMMON GROUND SCULPTURE PARK WILL SOON BE UNDER FULL CONSTRUCTION ON THE 62-ACRE SIDE ON HISTORIC ROUTE 66.

THE FIRST SCULPTURE, VALLEY OF THE HORSE WANT WAS UNVEILED EARLIER THIS YEAR.

THERE WILL BE HIKING TRAILS AND A DOG PARK, AS WELL.

THE OKLAHOMA CITY FAIRGROUNDS STAYING BUSY AND PROFITABLE TOPPING THIS BUSINESS REVIEW.

>> A BUSY NOVEMBER AT THE OKLAHOMA CITY FAIRGROUNDS GENERATING $36 MILLION IN DIRECT SPENDING FOR THE OKLAHOMA CITY ECONOMY.

ATTENDS FOR AN EQUINE CEREMONY, 95% FROM OUT OF TOWN.

THE RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL DREW TEN THOUSAND PEOPLE RESULTING IN $1.4 MILLION IN DIRECT SPENDING.

IN ALL, THE FAIRGROUNDS HOSTED 12 EVENTS DURING THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER.

THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA IS COLLABORATING WITH EUROPEAN ENERGY NORTH AMERICA TO DEVELOP GREEN ENERGY SITES IN OKLAHOMA.

GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT CALLING THIS A PARTNERSHIP AND THIS IS TO RENEW VARIETY INCLUDING GREEN HYDROGEN AND ADVANCED BATTERY STORAGE SYSTEM AND INCREASE WIND AND SOLAR CAPABILITIES IN OUR STATE.

THE NEW YEAR BRINGS NEW LEADERSHIP TO DEVON ENERGY.

AFTER FOUR YEARS AT THE HELM, THE PRESIDENT ANNOUNCED HE'S RETIRING OF THE CORPORATION WHICH MERGED WITH WPX IN 2021.

HE ALSO SERVED ON THE BOARDED OF DIRECTORS AND WILL BE SUCCEEDED BY THE COMPANY's CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER.

WALWORTH IS FAMILIAR WITH THE CORPORATE OFFICES BECAUSE HE'S BEEN WITH THE COMPANY FOR 25 YEARS FILLING VARIOUS ROLES.

THE OKLAHOMA CITY ZOO AND BOTANICAL GARDENS HAD A NEW RECORD WITH 76,203 TOTAL GUESTS OF ALL AGES VISITING.

THIS IS THE MOST OF 69,300 GUESTS SET IN 2021.

THE INCREASE IN ATTENDANCE IS ATTRIBUTED TO THE OPENING OF THE OKC ZOO SAFARI LIGHTS DISPLAY AND UNSEASONABLY WARM WEATHER IN NOVEMBER.

THIS IS "THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW."

>> Rich: IN LATE OCTOBER, THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS RELEASED A REPORT SAYING VIOLENT CRIME WAS REDUCED IN OUR STATE PRISON SYSTEM.

BUT HAS IT BEEN REDUCED ENOUGH TO MAKE INMATES FEEL LIKE IT'S SAFE TO MAKE PEOPLE LIVE AND WORK?

THAT'S OUR IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION THIS WEEK WITH CASSIDY MUDD.

>> WE HAVE JASON SPARKS WITH THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF OKLAHOMA FOR CRIMINAL REFORM.

THERE WAS A HUGE DROP IN VIOLENT CRIME THIS THE STATE PRISONS AND WHAT INITIATIVES OR WHAT CHANGES WERE MADE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN?

>> WELL, THERE'S SEVERAL.

YOU KNOW, STAFF, DIFFERENT ADJUSTMENTS WITH STAFF AND STAFF's HARD WORK AT THE FACILITIES.

WE CAN IMPLEMENT MANY DIFFERENT STRATEGIES, BUT IT'S THE STAFF AT THE LOCAL FACILITY THAT ACTUALLY PUT IT INTO ACTION THAT DO WONDERS WITH DIFFERENT THINGS.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT, WE'VE IMPLEMENTED DIFFERENT REFORMS IN MISCONDUCTS, MAKING CERTAIN EGREGIOUS CONDUCTS, HOLDING INMATES MORE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THOSE.

ALSO STRATEGIC POPULATION MOVES.

WE SIT DOWN WITH POPULATION ON A WEEKLY BASIS AND LOOK AT THE POPULATION, LOOK AT THE ISSUES WE'RE HAVING AND FROM THE DIFFERENT FACILITIES.

>> WHILE WE'RE SEEING POSITIVE CHANGES, MANY ARE ARGUING THE PRISON SYSTEM STILL HAS A LONG WAY TO GO.

ARE THERE ANY CONCERNS YOU HAVE FOR INMATES AND WORKERS?

>> THANK YOU FOR TALKING ABOUT THIS CRITICAL ISSUE.

I BELIEVE OKLAHOMA IS AT A CRITICAL INFLECTION POINT.

WE'VE HAD ONE OF THE HIGHEST PER CAPITA INCARCERATION RATES FOR THE LAST DECADE.

THAT MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE PUTS A BURDEN ON CORRECTION STAFF, ON THOSE OFFICERS WHO ARE HAVING TO PROVIDE SAFETY IN THOSE ENVIRONMENTS.

IN 2016, WHEN OKLAHOMA BECAME THE PRISON CAPITAL OF THE WORD, OUR STATE PRISONS WERE ABOUT 115% OVER CAPACITY.

IT REALLY IS THOSE CAPACITY ISSUES THAT ARE CREATING SO MANY OF THE PROBLEMS AND WE APPLAUD THE WORK THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS HAS DONE TO IMPROVE SAFETY, TO IMPROVE THOSE CONDITIONS AROUND VIOLENCE AND THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN PRISONS.

BUT I THINK THIS IS A QUESTION ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE FRONT END.

THE STATISTICS ARE REALLY CLEAR.

PEOPLE IN OKLAHOMA CONCURRENTLY SERVE 90% LONGER IN PRISON FOR THEFT AND FRAUD, 115% LONGER FOR MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE 70% MORE PEOPLE OVER THE AGE OF 60 IN OUR PRISONS THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

SO MANY OF THESE ISSUES AROUND VIOLENCE AND PRISON OVERCROWDING AND THE CONDITIONS COULD REALLY BE HELPED BY MAKING OKLAHOMA's PRISON SENTENCES MORE LIKE THE NATIONAL ARGUE, MORE LIKE STATES LIKE KANSAS.

DOING SO WOULD SAVE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS A YEAR TO BE INVESTED AND SUPPORTED FOR THE KINDS OF CORRECTION STAFF, FOR THE KINDS OF CRIME REDUCTION PIECES WE SEE IN THE COMMUNITY AND SERVICES TO REALLY CHANGE THINGS.

>> JASON, AS MENTIONED, OVERCROWDING AND OVERSTAFFING IS CORRECTING TO THAT VIOLENCE WE'RE SEEING AND HOW ARE YOU AND YOUR TEAM WORKING TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES SPECIFICALLY?

>> STAFFING IS AN ISSUE NATIONWIDE WITH CORRECTIONS.

SINCE MAY OF 2023, WE'VE HIRED CLOSE TO 350 CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS AND OF THOSE THAT WE'VE HIRED SINCE THAT TIME, WE'RE RETAINING 80% OF THEM.

WE CONTINUE TO RECRUIT AND HIRE THEM ON A DAILY BASIS AND SO WE'VE TOTALLY RESTRUCTURED OR ACADEMY BACK IN MAY OF 2023.

WE'VE ALSO IMPLEMENTED FIELD TRAINING PROGRAM FOR THE OFFICERS, WHERE THEY GO TO THE FACILITIES AND DO SOME OF THE WORK PRIOR TO GOING TO THE ACADEMY.

SO THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GETTING INTO.

IT'S A DIFFICULT PROFESSION AND IT'S NOT FOR EVERYBODY, BUT WE'RE DOING WHAT WE CAN TO GET FOR PEOPLE IN.

AS FAR AS THE OVERCROWDING AND ISSUES, THAT'S OUTSIDE OF OUR CONTROL.

WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH WHAT'S IN FRONT OF US, WHO WE GET AND THE STAFF.

>> AND GO FROM THERE.

THE LEGISLATURE GAVE STREAK A RD DID THAT HELP?

>> A LITTLE BIT.

WE HELP TO TRY TO DO THE BEST WE CAN, ABSOLUTELY.

ANYTHING HELPS.

BUT WE'RE A LITTLE WAYS FROM WHERE WE WANT TO BE.

>> AS WE CONSIDER THIS REPORT AND WE TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE VIOLENCE WE FACED, HOW CAN WE HEAR THOSE STORIES AND LOOK AT THE STATISTICS FROM THE REPORT?

>> SO, YOU KNOW, LIKE I MENTIONED YEAR, ON A DAILY BASIS, WE LOOK AT THIS, ALL OF THE DATA WE GET FROM EACH INDIVIDUAL FACILITY, WE LOOK AT THAT ON A DAILY BASIS AND PARSE THAT DATA AND LOOK FOR ANYTHING THAT WILL POINT US IN A DIRECTION TO ADDRESS IT.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT FAMILIES HAVE A CONNECTION WITH THE INMATES, OBVIOUSLY.

RECIDIVISM RATES, OKLAHOMA IS SECOND IN THE NATION IN RECIDIVISM, SO WE'RE DOING A GREAT JOB OF NOT SENDING PEOPLE BACK.

WE NEED TO INTRODUCE THEM BACK INTO SOCIETY WITH THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL THERE.

AND SO, WE DO THAT, THEY'RE GOING TO BE NEXT TO US IN WALMART AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE NEXT TO US IN THE PICKUP LINE.

SO IT BEEHOVES US AS AN ORGANIZATION TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE PREPARED TO BE THE BEST THEY CAN BE WHEN THEY REENTER SOCIETY.

WE'RE STRESSING THAT.

>> REHABILITATION IS A MAJOR AIM OF THE PRISON SYSTEM AND HOW WOULD YOU SAY SAFETY HELPS SUPPORT THAT GOAL?

>> THERE'S MORE ACTIVITIES FOR INMATES TO BE BETTER PREPARED WHEN THEY EXIT.

SAFETY EVERYWHERE, STAFF SAFETY, INMATE SAFETY IS A FOUNDATIONAL ISSUE WHEN IT COMES TO CORRECTS TO PROVIDE WHAT WE NEED TO TO AN INMATE.

>> THE QUESTION I ASKED EARLIER, HOW DO WE COMPARE THE PROGRESS IN THE DATA VERSUS INMATES AND THEIR FAMILIES?

>> THERE HAS BEEN PROGRESS AND I WANT TO COMMEND DOC, WHAT JASON IS SAYING IS TRUE.

THEY DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO KIND OF CONTROL THE FLOW OF INDIVIDUALS IN AND OUT OF STATE PRISONS.

THEY'RE KIND OF DOING THE BEST THEY CAN WITH THE SITUATION THAT THEY'VE BEEN GIVEN.

I THINK THE ISSUE THERE IS THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE, THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE BEING FORCED TO WAREHOUSE.

IT IS THAT DISPARITY THAT IS REALLY PRODUCING SOME OF THE TRAGIC CASES THAT WE HEAR ABOUT.

WE HAVEN'T GIVEN THESE CORRECTION STAFF AND THESE OFFICERS THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO HANDLE JUST THE LARGE AMOUNT OF INDIVIDUALS THAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH YOU COMBINE THAT WITH THE FACT THAT JUST TO BE HONEST, MANY OF OUR PRISONS BOTH NATIONALLY AND IN OKLAHOMA ARE FUNCTIONALLY BECOMING NURSING HOMES, RIGHT?

THEY'RE DEALING WITH OLD EVERY INDIVIDUALS WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS THAT REQUIRE HIGH FUNDING, THAT REQUIRE HIGH CHRONIC CARE, THAT REQUIRE HIGH UTILIZATION AND LABOR COSTS.

IF WE CAN BEGIN COMPASSIONATE RELIEF TO TAKE THE BURDEN OFF OF CORRECTION STAFF AND NURSING STAFF TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THOSE THINGS, WE NOW HAVE SOURCES AND RESOURCES TO DEAL WITH THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT A THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY, RIGHT?

INDIVIDUALS WHO WOULD BE THIS A NURSING HOME, I DON'T THINK MOST PEOPLE THINK OF THEM AS A THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY GENERALLY.

I THINK THOSE INDIVIDUALS NEED TO BE MOVED OUT OF A SETTING TO GIVE CORRECTION's OFFICERS THE ABILITY TO MANAGE THE HIGHER THREATS THAT EVERYBODY WANTS THEY TO BE FOCUSED ON.

>> WE'RE TALKING A LOT ABOUT PROGRESS, OUR CONTENT TALKED ABOUT SOMEONE BEATEN TO DEATH AND JUST TERRIBLE.

THE FAMILY WANTS TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS AND PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS, BUT HOW DID YOU THE DOC STATE IN CONTACT?

>> MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.

THE SUITCASE MANAGERS MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH THE FAMILY.

HOWEVER, THERE ARE CERTAIN STATE AND FEDERAL STATUTES THAT DON'T ALLOW US TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE FAMILIES BECAUSE THE INMATE IS AN ACTUAL ADULT.

AND JUST LIKE WHEN YOUR KID GOES TO COLLEGE, RIGHT, THE STUDENT HAS TO GIVE PERMISSION TO WHOEVER TO TALK TO THE SCHOOL.

SO IT'S SIMILAR WITH DOC.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE PROCESSES IN PLACE TO NOTIFY FAMILY, NEXT OF KIN WHEN UNFORTUNATE THINGS HAPPEN.

HOWEVER, IF THE PROPER PERMISSIONS AREN'T IN PLACE, WE CAN'T RELEASE INFORMATION TO ANYONE UNLESS IT'S PUBLIC INFORMATION.

>> THE PRISON REFORM, PRISON CULTURE DOES CONTRIBUTE TO VIOLENCE AND HOW WOULD YOU SAY THE CULTURE NEEDS TO CHANGE.

>> THERE'S A LEVELING OF MODERNIZATION, REALLY A PROCESS, BOTH THE OCPD, THAT REALLY WORKS WITH THE COMMUNITY OF PROFESSIONALS IN THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, REALLY THINKING ABOUT HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT EVERY CORRECTION's OFFICER IS BEING GIVEN EVIDENCE-BASED, BEST PRACTICE's TRAINING ON HOW TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE WHO MAY BE EXPERIENCING MENTAL ILLNESS AND CRIESCY.

CRISIS.

WE ARE GIVING THEM THE TOOLS TO WORK WITH THAT.

THE OTHER PIECE, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH SPECIALIZATION AMONG CASE MANAGERS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.

SO THERE ARE ALL THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST TRYING TO DO TOO MANY JOBS.

WE REALLY NEED RE-ENTRY, SPECIFIC SPECIALIZATION AND AT LEAST TRAINING AROUND RE-ENTRY SPECIFICALLY FOR CASE MANAGEMENT.

WE NEED TRAINING, BETTER TRAINING AND CONNECTION TO EMPLOYMENT PATHWAYS.

THERE REALLY SHOULD BE MORE OF A SOLID CONNECTION BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY THAT AN INDIVIDUAL IS RETURNING TO WHEN THEY COME HOME FROM PRISON AND THE CASE MANAGEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE WE HAVE.

THE LAST THING I WOULD SAY IS JUST HOPE.

THE CULTURE OF PRISON IS AFFECTED GREATLY BY HOPE.

WE HAVE HEARD THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS IS CURRENTLY CONSIDERING BECAUSE OF BUDGET ISSUES ONLY HAVING TWO RESOURCE FAIRS A YEAR.

THAT'S RESOURCE FAIRS TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO EMPLOYMENT, TO RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY, TO VITAL THINGS THAT GIVE THEM HELP.

WE KNOW THAT WHEN PEOPLE WHO ARE HOUSED IN PRISON FACILITIES DON'T BELIEVE THEY HAVE OPTIONS, THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO WORK WITH GANGS.

THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO DO VIOLENCE.

THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO GO DOWN THE WRONG PATH.

SO WE HOPE THAT WE CAN ENCOURAGE AND SPORT THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS IN GETTING THE BUDGET APPROPRIATIONS THEY NEED TO KEEP THOSE VITAL RESOURCES, TO KEEP THE CAREER SKILL's PROGRAMS, TO KEEP THE ENGAGEMENT THAT TURNS PEOPLE's LIVES AROUND.

>> SPEAKING OF BUDGET, DO WE THINK THERE'S ENOUGH INTEREST IN THE LEGISLATURE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN, TO HELP DO WHAT WE NEED?

>> GREAT PARTNERS IN THE OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE ON A YEAR IN, YEAR OUT BASIS AND WE WORK WITH THEM CONTINUOUSLY TO DO WHAT WE NEED.

AS A STATE, THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH TO GO AROUND FOR EVERYTHING.

SO IT'S DIFFICULT SOMETIMES AND SOMETIMES SOME THINGS HAVE TO BE LEFT OUT.

I WANT TO TOUCH ON SOMETHING IF I CAN.

DAMION TALKED ABOUT TRAINING AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE DONE WHEN WE RESTRUCTURED OR CADET ACADEMY, BRINGING IN THE NEW EMPLOYEES, GIVING THEM THE SKILLS TO ADDRESS JUST THE THINGS THAT DAMION HAS TALKED.

AND ALSO, AS A CULTURE AND ORGANIZATION, WE HAVE COMPLETELY CHANGED THE WAY WE APPROACH CORRECTIONS IN GENERAL.

FOR INSTANCE, WE HAVE THE OFFICE OF INMATE ADVOCACY AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST IN THE NATION.

WHEN DR. HART CAME IN, THAT'S ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS HE DID, WHERE WE SURVEY INMATES AND ASK THEM WHAT WE CAN DO BETTER AND ASK THEM WHAT THE MAJOR ISSUES ARE.

WE ACTUALLY ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES.

PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, WE'RE LOOK FOR NEW WAYS AND LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY TO MAKE THINGS SAFER, TO BRING MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO OUR INMATES.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THINGS SAFER IN THE YARD SO WE CAN DO MORE THINGS FOR THE INMATES, USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND LEVERAGING THE TECHNOLOGY TO US.

IN OCTOBER, WE ROLLED OUT 1100 BODY-WORN CAMERAS TALKI CAMERAS.

THIS WAS A HUGE STEP FOR WHAT THE AGENCY DID FOR SAFETY OF OUR STAFF AND SAFETY OF THE INMATES.

>> GENTLEMEN, WE'RE OUT OF TIME AND I WANTED TO SEE IF YOU HAD FINAL THOUGHTS.

DAMION, WE'LL START WITH YOU.

>> I HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR THE CORRECTION OFFICIALS ARE DOING WITH THE RESOURCES THEY'VE BEEN DOING.

THANK YOU FOR THE WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY AND TRYING TO HELP REHABILITATE THESE INDIVIDUALS.

WHAT I WOULD SAY TO THE PUBLIC AND POLICY MAKERS IS LET'S NOT ABANDON THESE VITAL PUBLIC SAFETY PROFESSIONALS.

LET'S GIVE THEM WHAT THEY NEED, THE TRAINING, THE RESOURCES THEY'VE DESCRIBED TO LIFT UP THE SPIRITS OF THESE CORRECTION's PROFESSIONALS REALLY TRYING TO DO THE BEST JOB TO SUPPORT THEIR COMMUNITIES.

>> JASON?

>> TO CHANGE A CULTURE, IT TAKES A LIT BIT OF TIME AND ESPECIALLY A CULTURE THAT HAS BEEN BUILT OVER A HUNDRED YEARS OR SO.

AND YOU KNOW, THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA, THE CITIZENS, THIS IS THE SAME THING.

THEY GO THROUGH THIS EBB AND FLOW OF WHAT THEY SEE INMATES AS AND AS A STATE, WE KIND OF ADJUST TO THAT AS I GOES.

AS AN ORGANIZATION, WE KNOW 95% OF PEOPLE INCARCERATED WILL END UP BACK ON THE STREETS.

WE HAVE TO PREPARE THEM FOR WHAT THEY'RE WALKING INTO WHEN THEY COME OUT OF ONE OF OUR FACILITIES.

OUR STAFF DOES AN OUTSTANDING JOB OF WHAT THEY HAVE ON A DAY IN AND DAY OUT BASIS.

I APPRECIATE THEM AND THE HARD WORK THEY GIVE US EVERY DAY.

>> I APPRECIATE YOU FOR JOINING US AND SHARING YOUR INSIGHTS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Rich: GREAT CONVERSATION.

IN WEEK's VIEW, WE'LL HEAD TO THE LOBSTER CAPITAL OF THE COUNTRY AND LEARN WHY GHOST GEAR IS SUCH A BIG PROBLEM IN THE STATE OF MAINE.

>> IT'S A CHILLY SEPTEMBER DAY AS NOAH DIVES BACK OFF THE BOAT AND THIS IS A BALMY 57° AND WARM FOR OPPENHEIH.

HE HAS A GO-PRO CAMERA AND BEGINS A 30-FOOT DESCENT TO THE BOTTOM.

THEY'RE SEARCHING FOR GHOST GEAR PROTECTING THE ROCKLAND HARBOR.

SCIENTISTS ESTIMATE THERE ARE MILLIONS OF FISHING TRAPS IN THE BOTTOM OF THE GULF OF MAINE.

WHEN THE DIVERS FIND A TRAP, THEY TUG ON IT AND A WEIGHTED LINE IS TOSSED INTO THE WATER WHICH IS ATTACHED TO BE HAULED UP LATER.

THE WIRE TRAPS ARE TORN LOOSE OR ACCIDENTALLY CUT OFF BY PROPELLERS IN HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS AND COLLECTED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE COVES AND HARBORS.

>> I THINK IN HERE WILL BE A GOLD MINE.

ONE EVERY TEN FEET ON THE SONAR.

>> SCOTT RUNS THE NONPROFIT "OCEAN's WIDE" TO GET GHOST GEAR FROM THE FLOOR.

>> I THINK WE CAN WORK THIS AREA FOR TWO WEEKS AND STILL LEAVE SOME, YEAH.

>> SCOTT GUESSES THERE ARE MAYBE A FEW HIM TRAPS AROUND THE BREAK WATER ALONE AND MORE THAN 15 MILLION ABANDONED POTS IN MAIN WATERS AND THE ESTIMATE ASSUMES THE ROUGHLY FIVE THOUSAND MAINORS WITH LOBSTER FISHING LICENSES MAY LOSE 80 TRAPS A YEAR.

THE WIRE POTS REPLACED WOODEN BIODEGRADABLE TRAPS IN THE 1980s AND PILING UP SINCE.

SCOTT SAYS MANY DIVERS ARE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS INTERESTED IN CLEANING UP.

MANY ARE DRAWN IN BY HIS OWN STORY.

HE FOUND NEW OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH RESEARCH DIVING IN THE ARCTIC AND ELSEWHERE.

>> SO I'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO A LOT IN THE FIRST 50 YEARS AND THAT'S WHAT I HOPE FOR THESE GUYS, YEAH.

CLEAN UP THE OCEAN HERE AND GO OFF AND MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE.

>> EMILY LEARNED TO DIVE WITH OCEAN's WIDE EIGHT YEARS AGO AND WORKING ON HER MATTER DIVE E CERTIFICATION.

ABOUT 20% OF THE TRAPS RECOVERED BY OCEAN's WIDE ARE STILL IN USEABLE SHAPE.

IT CAN BE FRUSTRATING SOMETIMES TO HAVE TO LEAVE SO MANY MORE TRAPS ON THE OCEAN FLOOR AT THE END OF A DAY.

>> JUST TO KNOW THERE ARE MORE BEING MADE, THAT'S DISCOURAGING AND ALL MAKES IT WORTH IT WHEN WE HAVE WORTHWHILE CHANGES WITH LOBSTER MEN INTERESTED IN WHAT WE'RE DOING AND WHO ARE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO HELP US.

>> IN JUST ABOUT 20 MINUTES OR SO, THE DIVERS AND FOUND AND TAGGED FIVE TRAPS.

ONCE THE DIVERS ARE OUT, THEY'RE TANGLED WITH SEAWEED.

THERE ARE FEW LOBSTERS, MUSSELS AND A CRAB.

THIS ONE WAS SET IN 2009 ACCORDING TO THE TAG.

>> YOU CONTACT THAT INDIVIDUAL, TALK ABOUT WHERE THAT GEAR WAS SET IN RELATION TO WHERE IT WAS RETRIEVED AND WE CAN UNDERSTAND HOW IT MOVES OVER THE COURSE OF A DECADE PLUS.

THAT WILL ALLOW US TO FIND MORE GEAR AND PRIORITIZE HOT SPOTS WHERE IT'S AGGREGATING.

>> SOME REUSABLE TRAPS ARE RETURNED TO OWNERS AND OTHERS ARE RECYCLED.

OCEANS WIDE DIVERS RECOVERED 13,000 TRAPS NEAR GOLDSBORO.

A FEDERAL MARINE GRANT WILL ALLOW THEM TO EXPAND.

>> Rich: HOLIDAYS ARE NOT A BEST TIME FOR EVERYBODY.

MANY PEOPLE SUFFER FROM DEPRESSION AND THIS FOCUSES ON TO RECOGNIZE AND HOPE THOSE IN NEED FRIDAY AT 7:00.

WE'LL SAY SO LONG WITH A LOOK AT YUKON's CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK BY CASEY FERGUSON.

FOR ALL OF US WHO PLAY A ROLE ON PUTTING THIS NEWSCAST ON THE AIR, I'M RICH LENZ AND HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ JUST HEAR THOSE SLEIGH BELLS RINGING.

♪ IT'S LOVELY WEATHER FOR A SLEIGH RIDE TOGETHER WITH YOU.

♪ OUTSIDE THE SNOW IS FALLING AND FRIENDS CALL YOU WHO