Oklahoma ranks among the worst states for domestic violence; we must do better

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and it gives us an opportunity to confront one of the hardest truths about our state: Oklahoma continues to rank among the highest in the nation for domestic violence. That reality is more than numbers on a page; it represents spouses, parents, children, friends, colleagues and neighbors whose lives have been devastated or cut short by abuse. Unfortunately, every Oklahoman, including myself, knows someone who has been impacted by domestic violence. It must stop.

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Awareness must lead to action, and it’s our responsibility as lawmakers, neighbors and Oklahomans to meet this crisis head-on. We cannot change the past, but we can shape the future by creating laws that protect survivors, hold abusers accountable and strengthen the systems that support families in their most vulnerable moments.

Over the past two years, the Legislature has taken important steps in this direction. While these reforms represent progress, they also remind us of the work still ahead.

Last year, we passed Alanda’s Law, which I carried in honor of Alanda Bradshaw, a young mother who lost her life to domestic abuse, leaving behind a beautiful daughter. The law ensures that when survivors seek emergency custody of their children, courts must schedule a hearing within 10 days. This closes a loophole that abusers once used to stall proceedings and delay justice. For many survivors, time is the difference between safety and danger. Alanda’s Law gives families a faster pathway to protection, reducing one of the many barriers survivors face when trying to escape violence.

This year, the Legislature approved Senate Bill 541, expanding the list of crimes under Oklahoma’s 85% rule, which requires offenders to serve nearly their entire sentence before becoming eligible for parole. The law now includes second domestic assault convictions and assaults against pregnant women. These are especially cruel crimes that target the most vulnerable. Ensuring offenders serve the majority of their sentences is one way we can show Oklahoma values accountability and refuses to minimize the harm caused by repeat abusers.

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Another landmark reform was the Oklahoma Survivors’ Act, passed in 2024. This law recognizes what many of us have heard firsthand from victims: Sometimes the crimes committed by survivors cannot be separated from the years of abuse they endured. Judges may now consider a history of domestic violence as a mitigating factor during sentencing, and even allow resentencing in some cases. For too long, survivors who acted in desperation were treated the same as violent offenders. This reform acknowledges trauma, restores fairness and gives survivors a meaningful voice in the justice system.

These steps represent meaningful progress, but laws alone are not enough. We must ensure these policies are implemented fully, backed with adequate resources and accessible to every survivor who needs them. Just as importantly, we must confront the root causes of abuse, including generational cycles of violence and post-traumatic stress disorder, and build stronger systems of support before a crisis occurs.

Domestic violence is not a private matter. It is a public health crisis, a criminal justice issue and a moral test for our state. Addressing it requires cooperation across our courts, law enforcement, schools, health systems, faith communities and local organizations. No one sector can solve this alone.

Let’s recommit ourselves to action. Survivors deserve more than awareness. They deserve effective laws, compassionate systems and a promise that voices once silenced by fear will be heard and protected in Oklahoma’s halls of justice. We cannot afford to fall short.

How to get help

If you or someone you know is a victim of abuse, call the Oklahoma Safe Line 800-522-SAFE (7233) to speak with an advocate.

Rep. Erick Harris, a Republican, represents House District 39 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes portions of central and northern Edmond.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Domestic violence is a public health crisis | Opinion