SHINE

About the Program

Category: Community and Economic Development (Best in Category)

Year: 2014

In 2010, Oklahoma County District Two Commissioner Brian Maughan met with the Public Defender and the District Attorney to propose a new way to handle low-level non-violent offenders sentenced to perform community service. Thus was born SHINE – Start Helping Impacted Neighborhoods Everywhere – which places those offenders under close daily supervision and works them as a team to perform vital community service work. The program saves at least $1.5 million in jail costs annually, has a minimal recidivism rate and has been emulated by other jurisdictions. It has also been expanded to include a youth volunteerism program – Students for SHINE – that has been embraced by local colleges and public schools.