Why this reporting takes time — and why it matters

Being a journalist at The Frontier sometimes means staying committed to the truth even when it takes months to uncover. In Oklahoma, many newsrooms simply don’t have the time, staff or resources to do this kind of work. That’s why The Frontier depends on people like you. Without your support, many of these stories would go untold. Sometimes my work as a criminal justice reporter is about people who were failed by the systems meant to protect them.

This year, I reported on Amber Bacon, who said she faced retaliation after she reported being groped by a supervisor at her prison job. Reporting that story required time, care and persistence. It mattered because Amber’s story was not isolated, and silence would have allowed it to remain hidden.

The Frontier spent three months fighting for officer disciplinary records after the Tulsa police union went to court to stop their release. Then another three months going through the documents, doing more reporting and asking hard questions. The records showed that some officers suspected of driving while intoxicated were not arrested or charged with crimes. 

I often get phone calls, texts or emails asking me to look into death, beating or overdose deaths at state prisons. 

When I found out the Oklahoma Department of Corrections stopped releasing reports on deaths and other violent incidents behind prison walls, I knew we had to fight for those records. Families deserve answers. The public deserves transparency. 

That’s why The Frontier is suing for access to the state records.

None of it happens without support from readers who believe this work matters. Through the end of the year, NewsMatch will match your donation dollar-for-dollar up to $1,000. Together, we can raise up to $12,000 to fund independent, investigative journalism that holds the powerful accountable and gives a voice to those who are too often ignored.

If you value this work, please consider making a donation today.