FEBRUARY 2026 | 13 THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL Statements or opinions expressed in the Oklahoma Bar Journal are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Oklahoma Bar Association, its officers, Board of Governors, Board of Editors or staff. seek enforcement of their rights through appointed legal advocates, and the Oregon Constitution allows for meaningful participation and recourse.24 Arizona’s constitution also includes enforceable victims’ rights, and the state has implemented a victim ombudsman and legislative oversight to track compliance.25 Under Arizona Rev. Stat. §13‑4437, victims are empowered to enforce these rights by filing motions, special actions or even seeking damages from governmental entities. Crucially, the Arizona attorney general’s office maintains a victims’ rights compliance administrator who serves as an ombudsman, takes complaints, conducts investigations and promotes compliance across state and county agencies.26 Ohio similarly supports enforcement through court-appointed legal assistance, and victims (or their representatives) can legally challenge violations of their rights through interlocutory appeals or writs and have courts appoint counsel when necessary.27 These states demonstrate what is possible when legal rights are matched by infrastructure, funding and political will. By contrast, Oklahoma’s constitutional provisions are more aspirational than actionable. Without a victims’ rights ombudsman or guaranteed access to legal counsel, enforcement is inconsistent and largely reliant on prosecutorial discretion. Establishing statutory mechanisms for enforcement, modeled after other states’ approaches, would dramatically strengthen victim protections in Oklahoma. Victims’ rights shouldn’t vary so drastically depending on the state in which a crime occurs. True justice requires consistency and accountability. CONCLUSION Victims of crime deserve more than symbolic rights. They deserve the ability to participate meaningfully, be treated with dignity and have recourse when the system fails them. As members of the bar, we are gatekeepers to justice, not just for defendants but for all who come before the court. It is time to take victims’ rights seriously, not just in theory but in action. We can look to states like Oregon, Arizona and Ohio for models of meaningful enforcement, and we must ask: What would it look like if Oklahoma followed suit? To begin closing the gap between promise and practice, attorneys and policymakers can: Support legislation that creates a state victims’ rights ombudsman with investigatory authority;
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