NCJ Number
204078
Date Published
May 2002
Length
121 pages
Annotation
Data on violence and substance abuse in Oklahoma illustrate the types and levels of violence in the State; the intent of this report is to make Oklahomans aware of the nature and magnitude of violence as a public health issue and to make a case for prevention and community action.
Abstract
Sources for the data presented were the Oklahoma State Department of Health, the State Bureau of Investigation, the State Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, the State Department of Human Services, and the Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. Data are presented on the following violence and substance abuse indicators: felonious assault, confirmed child maltreatment, domestic violence, confirmed adult maltreatment, firearm mortality, homicide, forcible rape, suicide, juvenile arrest, school violence, hate crimes, alcohol-related arrests, driving under the influence, drug-related arrests, and felony convictions for possession of a controlled dangerous substance. Data for each indicator cover fiscal years 1999 and 2000. Overall, the findings show a decrease in the rates of felonious assault, confirmed child maltreatment, domestic violence, firearm mortality, homicide, juvenile arrests, and alcohol-related arrests. Increases are noted, however, for adult maltreatment, forcible rape, suicide, drunk-driving felony convictions, drug-related arrests, possession of controlled dangerous substances, and hate crimes. The rates of all the violence indicators are sufficiently high to indicate that violent behavior occurs too often in Oklahoma. Extensive tables and figures and 207 references