OUR MISSION
Project VIP provides court-accepted victim impact panels to offenders in hopes of preventing recidivism and providing education for the awareness of the harmful impacts caused by drunk and drugged driving.
Project VIP
Oklahoma Victim Impact Panel
Our court-approved live Victim Impact Panels provide a platform for interaction between victims and offenders of impaired driving. This open dialogue evokes raw emotion in listening to real-life stories endured by our victims. The stories told are 100% real and the pain is genuine. Victims speak in hopes of preventing recidivism and providing education on the awareness of the harmful impacts caused by the decision of impaired driving. Project VIP provides an opportunity to truly listen to someone’s first-person account of how their life changed from a decision they did not make.
Our speakers relive their trauma in hopes of eradicating substance-impaired driving ultimately saving lives and injury prevention. We ask that attendees come shedding personal biases and are ready to listen and be attentive. We are committed to diversity and inclusion having a ‘come as you are policy’ comprised of committed and passionate employees aiming to result in no more victims from impaired driving.
Drunk and drugged driving is nondiscriminatory as a diversity of people share the road. It is our responsibility to make safe decisions so that everyone is given the chance to make it to their destination safely.
Victim’s Stories
Bobby Wayne Simmons
Melissa Brandon remembered October 17, 1999 as the night she got off work and came home to later have a trooper & police officer knock at her front door. At the time she was a 911 dispatcher in Sapulpa.
Because of working in that field “When I saw the police and a trooper at my door, I knew the next thing would be bad,” Melissa remembered. “They came to the door and told me that Bobby had been in a crash and that he didn’t make it.”
Victims Impact Panel Program
“Victims impact panel program” means a program conducted by a corporation registered with the Secretary of State in Oklahoma for the sole purpose of operating a victims impact panel program.
The ENR. H. B. NO. 2877 Page 17 program shall include live presentations from presenters who will share personal stories with participants about how alcohol, drug abuse, the operation of a motor vehicle while using an electronic communication device, or the illegal conduct of others has personally impacted the lives of the presenters.
A victims impact panel program shall be attended by persons who have committed the offense of driving, operating, or being in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicating substance, operating a motor vehicle while the ability of the person to operate such vehicle was impaired due to the consumption of alcohol or any other substance or operating a motor vehicle while using an electronic device.”