Local leaders and law enforcement join forces for "In by 10" initiative

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — "In by 10" is a grassroots initiative backed by law enforcement, the District Attorney's Office, and community leaders, following the recent string of violence among teens plaguing the metro.

"For the next 90 days, three months, we are asking every parent, every grandparent, every guardian to ensure that their children are home by 10 p.m.," Pastor Derrick Scobey said.

Associate District Judge Angela Singleton works in the juvenile division and shared statistics on the number of youth booked into the Oklahoma County Detention Center since January 2023.

"About over 700 of our young people have come into the detention center between the hours of 6 p.m. and 8 a.m. and 37% of our young people that enter into the detention center come in after midnight," Singleton said.

Oklahoma City Police Chief Ron Bacy described gun violence, crime, and incarceration among young people as an epidemic.

Chief Bacy said, "They're dying too young. They're making mistakes that cost them their freedom. Those mistakes and those lost lives have impacts in their ecosystems, their families, their friends, their classmates."

One of the hot spots for teens is Bricktown, which already has a 9:00 p.m. curfew for those under the age of 18.

Pastor Scobey added, "No late-night trips to Bricktown. No evening movies that extend past 10 p.m. No house parties, no kickbacks, no casual gatherings that continue into the dangerous hours."

County Commissioners, civic leaders, and state lawmakers are all in support of keeping the next generation safe.

Judge Lydia Green said, "It's no longer just about parenting. This initiative is a reflection of our community's core values, our priorities, and our vision for a better tomorrow."

After 90 days, if the initiative is successful, the agencies will meet and discuss a long-term plan.