Oklahoma County Detention Bureau

Staff Program

Inmate Program

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How it Happened...

Oklahoma County Jail

(Originally written 2005, updated and re–published June 2009)

In 1999, Major Cliff Uranga, Oklahoma County Detention Center Administrator, asked Chaplain Argyl Dick for help with the juvenile problem at the county jail.

Male juvenile offenders with charges too severe for the Juvenile Detention Center are housed at the county jail. Since the jail is a holding place, there were no activities provided for the juvenile offenders and boredom lead to trouble as the young men fought among themselves and destroyed anything within reach. The jail sustained thousands of dollars in damage each month in the juvenile area.

Chaplain Dick's assignment was to find a positive activity for the juvenile boys. Initially, Chaplain Dick was at a loss, but as he considered the underlying need of these young men, the idea of teaching character qualities presented itself. The Sheriff and Jail Administration agreed, and Chaplain Dick began searching for an appropriate curriculum.

Findings presented at the 2005 proceedings of the Large Jail Network:
Internet research brought the Character First! curriculum to his attention. To his surprise, the headquarters of Character First! were just three blocks from the jail. After several discussions with the director of Character First! , Chaplain Dick started a weekly "Character Class" for the juveniles. Attendance was voluntary, interest was slow, and reactions were guarded. It provided an escape from their cells, but some of the young men didn't want to appear interested. They hung out, acted indifferent, and listened covertly as Chaplain Dick or a volunteer from Character First! explained a character quality (obedience, responsibility, self-control, etc.), discussed how to apply it, and gave evidence of the difference it could make in a life. Chaplain Dick learned to start by talking about the opposite of each quality: deception vs. truthfulness or unthankfulness vs. gratefulness. These youthful offenders could relate more easily with the negative concept.

Over several months, interest grew, and the class became so popular that peer pressure spurred the young inmates to join. By the end of the first year, 99-100% of the young men chose to attend class every week, and property damage decreased to zero! Nine years later, attendance is still 100% and property destruction is still zero. Uses of force in the Juvenile Unit have become virtually unnecessary.

The combination of someone who truly cares and the resources of Character First! have influenced these young men in a profound and positive manner. The program has also expanded to female juvenile offenders and adult gang members. Each week, at least twenty juvenile offenders and two female juvenile offenders participate in separate classes, and a Character First! monthly video is played twice daily on TVs in all 29 pods throughout the prison.

The success of this program is made possible by the partnership between the jail, the chaplaincy program, and the volunteer participants from the Character First! organization. Each contributor has a mutual commitment to improve the lives of juvenile offenders by building life skills that will strengthen relationships, and increase opportunities to reduce recidivism and improve cognitive skills.