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
Court-Approved Victim Impact Panel in Oklahoma
Project VIP hosts a live, court-approved Victim Impact Panel that creates a powerful connection between victims and offenders of impaired driving. Through open dialogue and real-life stories, participants experience the genuine emotions and lasting consequences caused by drunk and drugged driving.
Our Victim Impact Panel speakers share their personal experiences in hopes of preventing repeat offenses and raising awareness about the devastating impact of impaired driving. These stories are raw, real, and told with the purpose of inspiring change, promoting responsibility, and saving lives.
By attending Project VIP’s Victim Impact Panel in Oklahoma, participants hear first-person accounts of how lives were permanently altered by a decision they did not make. This unique opportunity encourages offenders to reflect, shed biases, and truly listen to the voices of those who have endured tragedy.
At Project VIP, we are committed to diversity, inclusion, and our “come as you are” policy. Our passionate team works to create a safe, respectful environment where education and accountability come together to reduce impaired driving and prevent future victims.
Impaired driving affects everyone—regardless of age, background, or community. Together, through the Oklahoma Victim Impact Panel, we can promote safer roads, prevent injuries, and honor the experiences of victims by ensuring their stories drive meaningful change.
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 in Oklahoma
The Victims Impact Panel Program is a court-approved educational program in Oklahoma, conducted by corporations registered with the Secretary of State for the sole purpose of operating these panels. The goal of the program is to prevent impaired driving and promote safer communities through the power of real-life testimony.
Each Victims Impact Panel Program includes live presentations from individuals who share powerful personal stories about how their lives were forever changed by alcohol or drug abuse, distracted driving, or the reckless actions of others. These firsthand accounts allow participants to understand the devastating consequences impaired or distracted driving can have on victims, families, and entire communities.
Attendance at a Victims Impact Panel Program is often required for individuals convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, driving while impaired, or operating a vehicle while using an electronic communication device. By listening to the stories of victims, attendees are challenged to reflect on their decisions, accept accountability, and make safer choices moving forward.
Through education and awareness, the Victims Impact Panel Program helps reduce repeat offenses, encourages responsible driving, and works toward a future with fewer victims of impaired and distracted driving.