CJAC charts bold new course in justice reform

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 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 and strengthens the local workforce. Employers heard directly from peers, including JPMorgan Chase, about the economic value and resilience justice-involved employees bring to the workplace. 

There was also progress on the legislative front. CJAC supported the passage of two important laws: House Bill 1460, which reduces or eliminates harmful court fines and fees; and Senate Bill 690, which ensures that incarcerated individuals working toward a GED can retain their academic progress across facilities. Both reforms are expected to reduce recidivism and promote economic stability. 

The Misdemeanor Diversion Program (MDP), supported by a federal COSSUP grant and administered through a partnership between Diversion Hub and Red Rock Behavioral Health, boasts a 78% graduation rate. Program data show that participants with stable employment are 3.4 times more likely to succeed—underscoring the importance of support services like housing, therapy and job training. 

CJAC also advanced the DataHub project, an integrated justice data system designed to track outcomes across the legal continuum—from arrest to case resolution. Combined with public-facing dashboards, this effort aims to increase transparency, identify system delays and help prevent people from falling through the cracks. 

As Walton and CJAC look to the future, their focus remains clear: aligning public resources toward rehabilitation, prevention and equity. To stay engaged with their ongoing work, visit okcountycjac.com or follow @OKCountyCJAC on social media.