Juvenile Competency

In accordance with Title 10A § 2-2-401.4, the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth (OCCY) has implemented a program to establish standardized procedures and qualifications for juvenile competency evaluators. The program aims to ensure that evaluations of juveniles in competency proceedings are conducted by professionals with the necessary expertise and credentials.

OCCY convenes a professional committee consisting of a multidisciplinary team, including:

• Judges
• Defense Attorneys
• Prosecuting Attorneys,
• Licensed Psychologists or Psychiatrists
• Other Legal or Professional Experts in Competency Matters

This committee is tasked with developing comprehensive training and credentialing standards to guide evaluators in conducting assessments that align with legal and professional best practices.

The program maintains an up-to-date list of credentialed juvenile competency evaluators, which is made available to district courts statewide. This ensures that courts can access qualified professionals to conduct reliable and legally compliant competency evaluations for juveniles.

For more information contact:

Richard Yahola
(405) 606-4917
richard.yahola@occy.ok.gov