Purpose
Pursuant to 21 O.S. §§ 143 and 143.1, the Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence (SAFE) Board is tasked with evaluating and improving systems involved with sexual assault forensic evidence processing, including medical and law enforcement entities. The SAFE Board is staffed by the Oklahoma Office of the Attorney General.
There are seventeen statutorily mandated SAFE Board members, creating a multidisciplinary group: two members of the Oklahoma Senate, two members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, the Attorney General (or designee), OSBI Director (or designee), OKCPD Chief (or designee), TPD Chief (or designee), DAC Executive Coordinator (or designee), NAAV Executive Director (or designee), CLEET Executive Director (or designee), a SANE nurse, a municipal PD chief, a county sheriff, a public defender, a victim advocate, and a sexual assault survivor.
History
In response to a sexual assault test kit backlog, Governor Mary Fallin signed Executive Order 2017-11 (later filing an amended order) creating the Oklahoma Task Force on Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence in 2017, with the Governor (or designee) serving as Task Force Chairperson. As a result, the Task Force released SAFE Task Force 2018 Report of Findings and Recommendations.
In 2019, Governor Kevin Stitt signed Executive Order 2019-05, continuing the Task Force and transferring Chairperson designation to the Attorney General (or designee). The Task Force was to serve until or before January 1, 2023. In 2023, Governor Stitt signed Executive Order 2023-03, continuing the Task Force until completion of enumerated directives.
In 2024, Senator Kay Floyd sponsored Senate Bill No. 1933, supported by Senator Bullard and House Representatives Wallace, Munson, Swope, and Deck. This legislation took effect November 1, 2024, establishing the SAFE Board within the Office of the Attorney General and codifying the Board under Title 21 in the Oklahoma Statutes.
Findings & Reports
Materials & Publications
In The News
- Senate approves bills to better support evidence collection/processing for assault survivors
- Oklahoma House introduces Kay Floyd SANE Act to enhance officer coordination
- Senate approves bill to create standardized rape kit in Oklahoma
- Senate approves trio of bills to better help sexual assault victims
- Oklahoma SAFE Task Force Meets As Newly Formed Board
Board Members
| Name | Agency or Role | Appointing Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Kyle Keller, Chair | Oklahoma Sheriffs’ Association | Attorney General |
| Linda Terrell, Co-Chair | Survivor | Attorney General |
| Danielle Tudor, Special Designee to AG | Survivor | Attorney General |
| Mistie Burris or Jenny Virden, Designee | OSBI | OSBI |
| Major Ronnie Beck | Oklahoma City Police Department | Oklahoma City Police Department |
| Lt. Michael Helton or Sgt. Benjamin Brandt, Designee | Tulsa Police Department | Tulsa Police Department |
| Ryan Stephenson | District Attorneys Council | District Attorneys Council |
| Shelley Miller or Sonya Spray, Designee | Native Alliance Against Violence | Native Alliance Against Violence |
| Brooke Christian | CLEET | CLEET |
| Kasey Magness | SANE Nurse | Attorney General |
| Mikela Rhodes | YWCA (Sexual Assault Advocate) | Attorney General |
| Billy Parker | OK Association of Chiefs of Police | Attorney General |
| Amanda Lilley | OK Indigent Defense System | Attorney General |
| AG Gentner Drummond | Attorney General’s Office | Attorney General |
| Laura Russell, SAFE Board Secretary | Admin/OAG Grant Monitor | Attorney General |
| Susan Laib | Admin/OAG Director of VASU | Attorney General |
| Senator Carri Hicks (D) | Oklahoma State Senate | President Pro Tempore of the Senate |
| Senator Julie McIntosh (R) | Oklahoma State Senate | President Pro Tempore of the Senate |
| Representative Melissa Provenzano (D) | OK House of Representatives | Speaker of the House of Representatives |
| Representative Cynthia Roe (R) | OK House of Representatives | Speaker of the House of Representatives |
Board Meetings
- 2023 Meeting Schedule
- May 11 | Agenda | Minutes
- August 17 | Agenda | Minutes | Amended Meeting Notice August 17
- November 9 (Cancelled) Amended Meeting Notice November 9
- May 12 | Agenda
- August 11 | Open Meeting Compliance | Agenda
- November 10 | Agenda
Contact
For more information about the SAFE Board, contact:
Laura Russell
OAG Victim Advocacy and Services Unit Grant Monitor
Laura.Russell@oag.ok.gov
