New OJA Chief Calls For New Center For Older Offenders

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) -- The new director of the state Office of Juvenile Affairs says there needs to be a facility to hold 18-, 19- and 20-year old offenders.<br/><br/>Gene Christian says a $20-million center

Wednesday, September 20th 2006, 9:38 am

By: News On 6

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) -- The new director of the state Office of Juvenile Affairs says there needs to be a facility to hold 18-, 19- and 20-year old offenders.

Gene Christian says a $20-million center should be built at the LE Rader Center in Sand Springs where the state's most violent juvenile offenders are kept.

Christian says as of now when judges decide the older offenders can't be moved to adult prisons there is no place to hold them and they can't be kept with younger offenders.

Christian is a former district attorney who was hired following the firing of Richard DeLaughter after audits questioned the agency's contracts with private service providers.