What is VIP?
Victims Impact Panel of Oklahoma, Inc. (VIP), is a powerful program aimed at combating drunk driving and driving under the influence of drugs. This program offers a unique perspective to the impaired driver, presenting in a very personal way the far-reaching effects of the choice to drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Through LIVE panel presentations, the audience experiences the impact of impaired driving through the eyes of:
- A victim: “The good news was that our daughter was killed instantly.”
- A rescue professional: “It’s the faces of the children killed by drunk drivers that you never forget.”
- An offender: “Not a day goes by that I don’t think about the lady I killed. And it was all because I chose to drive after drinking.”
The Victims Impact Panel of Oklahoma, Inc., (VIP) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to reducing the epidemic of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Impaired driving crashes take innocent lives and physically injure an alarming number of people daily. They are the number one killer of our young people. But unlike other serious epidemics, impaired driving has a cure. The answer is found in those who are forever changed because of someone’s decision to drive under the influence.
Victims Impact Panel of Oklahoma, Inc., believes in aiming at the heart to reach people about the dangers of driving under the influence. This is accomplished by presenting a panel of three speakers who share their personal and very real tragedies, thereby giving a name and a face to the pain and devastation. The three perspectives presented include:
- The Victim: This is either someone who has lost a family member to an impaired driver; someone who survived a wreck caused by an impaired driver; or someone whose loved one was permanently disabled or injured by an impaired driver.
- The Rescue Professional: This viewpoint can come from law enforcement, firefighters, or ambulance paramedics. These are people who are emotionally impacted by what they see and deal with at a DUI crash scene, regardless of the fact it is their job.
- The DUI Offender: This is someone who has killed or severely injured someone while driving under the influence and has served prison time for the crime.
History Of Victims Impact Panel Of Oklahoma, Inc.
Victims Impact Panel of Oklahoma, Inc. (VIP), was founded on October 1, 1989, by VIP Executive Director Janella Tears. It is Oklahoma’s original victim impact panel and has been court-recognized for over 30 years. In order to legitimize VIP, legislation was passed in 1990, which allowed Oklahoma judges to order DUI offenders to attend a victim impact panel in which they would hear in-person the testimonies of those who have been directly affected by someone’s choice to drive under the influence. It is not intended to be “punishment” for the DUI offender but rather a “wake-up call” about the consequences of bad choices.
Who are the Audiences?
Panels are presented on a regular basis to DUI offenders who have been court-ordered to attend. Victims Impact Panel of Oklahoma, Inc., has VIP programs offered throughout the state of Oklahoma. VIP programs are also presented in high schools and universities all through the school year.
VIP sees the program as being in a “win/win” situation. Everyone benefits from the program. With a mission statement of “. . . impaired driving awareness, prevention, and healing . . .” offenders are reformed through awareness; young people are prevented from making dangerous choices; and healing is promoted in the panelists who participate.
Who Attends VIP?
DUI Offenders
Anyone charged in the state of Oklahoma with the crime of driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) or drugs (DUID), actual physical control of a motor vehicle (APC), and other alcohol-related crimes is court-ordered to attend a victim impact panel as a condition of probation. VIP offers victim impact panel programs statewide so that every court has access to a VIP program.
Mission Statement
The basic mission of the Victims Impact Panel of Oklahoma, Inc. (VIP), is: to prevent people from making dangerous choices; to reform offenders through awareness; and to promote healing in the panelists who participate.
. . . impaired driving awareness, prevention, and healing . . .
Victims Impact Panel of Oklahoma, Inc. (VIP)
Does VIP Work?
In 2018, an independent research analyst was provided information through the Oklahoma Supreme Court Network and found that that in the major counties in Oklahoma where our VIP is offered, there was a success rate of over 90%. This means more than 90% percent of the offenders who attended our VIP have not been re-arrested for DUI. This data shows continued growth and success over the last 30 years in improving the recidivism rates among those who have attended our VIP program.
Ask the DUI Offenders…
Ask the Schools…
Reaching Our Youth Through School Programs
The Victims Impact Panel of Oklahoma, Inc. (VIP), has been presenting VIP programs in Oklahoma high schools and colleges since 1989. Many schools have a VIP program every year for their students particularly around prom time and graduation.
VIP feels that young people are the most important audience to reach. The influence this program can have on young people at a time in their lives when they are still impressionable can have a significant effect on the incidence of impaired driving, thereby saving lives.
Some schools have all-school assemblies and some choose certain grades to participate. A typical VIP program is presented for 9th – 12th graders in an assembly setting. VIP programs have been presented to groups as small as 30 and as large as 2,000.
The program lasts approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes and includes a moderator, two to three speakers, a short video, and time for the students to come and thank the speakers. The moderator and speakers will be individuals from the local area, which makes the presentation more personal.
For questions or to schedule a school program anywhere in the state, please contact our Edmond office at (405) 216-9556 or our Tulsa office at (918) 960-3001.
Civic Group Presentations
VIP is happy to make presentations to civic groups. The program can be a brief presentation or a full program. Contact the main office at (405) 216-9556 to schedule a VIP presentation.
What can you do?
DUI offender programs are available to all counties. That means there is one close to you. Call for more information on how you can volunteer to help. If you do not have a program in your immediate community, call (405) 216-9556 to get one started.
Help sponsor a program for your local school. Bringing VIP to your students will save lives. Call (405) 216-9556 or (918) 960-3001 for more information.
If drinking and driving has affected your life in a tragic way, no one can take away the pain completely, but our speakers find a unique healing experience in helping others. They are able, perhaps for the first time, to make something good come out of their tragedy and in the process form strong support groups with others who understand.
One of the best ways you can help VIP is by helping spread the message. The more people who know about our program, the better we will be able to serve our communities. Contact your local regional office to find out how you can help in this way.
You can volunteer for our annual fundraiser. Each year VIP hosts an event to help raise money for the coming year’s expenses. If you would like to participate in any way, please contact us at (405) 216-9556 for more information.
Make A Donation To VIP
Victims Impact Panel of Oklahoma, Inc. (VIP), is a non-profit organization that graciously accepts donations. Because we are a 501(c)3 organization, all donations are tax deductible.
Donations allow us to update school equipment and supplies (projectors, other audio-visual equipment, posters, forms, etc.); produce new videos; show appreciation to our volunteer speakers at a speaker appreciation dinner; and expand the program to all parts of the state.
VIP is self-supporting and does not receive government funding. Funding sources include: DUI offender fees, school program fees, and fund raisers.
Another source of funding is VIP’s “Circle of Giving” wherein financial donations are received and those donors are recognized on this Web site. As a proven loyal supporter of Victims Impact Panel of Oklahoma, Inc., we would like to invite you to join our VIP Circle of Giving. As an honored member, you will be financially supporting a life-saving program and ensuring that the mission of Victims Impact Panel of Oklahoma, Inc., continues.
Recognized Donors
- Sharon Lewis
- C & H Bit Company
- Kerr Foundation
- Nancy Major
- Deb Garcia – Microsoft
- JenCo Roofing
- The Honorable Robert H. Macy
If you are interested in making a monetary contribution, click on the “Donate Now” button below or checks may be written to:
Victims Impact Panel of Oklahoma, Inc.
14 West Edwards Street, Suite 109
Edmond, OK 73003
Upon receipt, we will send a receipt for income tax purposes, so be sure to include your name and mailing address.
Make a Donation to VIP
Donations allow us to update school equipment and supplies (projectors, other audio-visual equipment, posters, forms, etc.); produce new videos; show appreciation to our volunteer speakers at a speaker appreciation dinner; and expand the program to even more locations in an effort to combat impaired driving.