{"data":{"id":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-10a-10a-1-4-705","jurisdiction":"us-ok","citation":"Okla. Stat. tit. 10A, § 10A-1-4-705","heading":"Religious preference in placement - Placement of","body":"child – Restriction on placement in home of felon or sex offender.\n\nA. In placing a child in the custody of an individual, a\n\nprivate agency, or institution, the court and the Department of\n\nHuman Services shall, if possible, select a person, agency, or\n\ninstitution governed by persons of the same religious faith as that\n\nof the parents of the child, or in case of a difference in the\n\nreligious faith of the parents, then of the religious faith of the\n\nchild.\n\nB. Except as otherwise provided by this section or by law, it\n\nshall be left to the discretion of the judge to place the custody of\n\nchildren where their total needs will best be served. If an\n\nindividual meets the minimum required age for placement purposes,\n\nthe age of an otherwise eligible individual shall not be a reason\n\nfor denying the individual placement or custody of a child.\n\nC. A prospective foster or adoptive parent shall not be an\n\napproved placement for a child if the prospective foster or adoptive\n\nparent or any other person residing in the home of the prospective\n\nfoster or adoptive parent has been convicted of any of the following\n\nfelony offenses:\n\n1. Within the five-year period preceding the application date,\n\na physical assault, battery, or a drug-related offense;\n\n2. Child abuse or neglect;\n\n3. Domestic abuse;\n\n4. A crime against a child, including, but not limited to,\n\nchild sexual abuse material; or\n\n5. A crime involving violence, including, but not limited to,\n\nrape, sexual assault or homicide, but excluding those crimes\n\nspecified in paragraph 1 of this subsection.\n\nD. 1. Under no circumstances shall a child be placed with or\n\nin the custody of an individual subject to the Oklahoma Sex\n\nOffenders Registration Act or an individual who is married to or\n\nliving with an individual subject to the Oklahoma Sex Offenders\n\nRegistration Act.\n\n2. In addition, prior to the court placing a child in the\n\ncustody of an individual, the court shall inquire as to whether the\n\nindividual has been previously convicted of any felony or relevant\n\nmisdemeanor or has any felony or misdemeanor charges pending.\n\n3. Prior to the custody order being entered, the individual\n\nseeking custody shall provide an Oklahoma criminal history record\n\nobtained pursuant to Section 150.9 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma\n\nStatutes to the court.\n\n4. For purposes of this subsection the terms:\n\na. \"relevant misdemeanor\" may include assault and\n\nbattery, alcohol- or drug-related offenses, domestic\n\nviolence or other offenses involving the use of\n\nphysical force or violence against the person or\n\nproperty of another, and\n\nb. \"individual\" shall not include a parent or legal\n\nguardian of the child.\n\nE. The provisions of this section shall not apply in any\n\npaternity or domestic relations case, unless otherwise ordered by\n\nthe court.","path":["OK Code","Title 10A"],"source_url":"https://www.oklegislature.gov/OK_Statutes/CompleteTitles/os10A.pdf","current_through":"2026-08-14","vintage":"open-us-law v2026.08, retrieved 2026-09-14","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T18:32:36Z","sha256":"64fdcc576e56c60691b4609c937ed47058312ae3d02ff886c48d57fc4b3aca35","source_id":"us-ok","stale":false,"prev":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-10a-10a-1-4-704","next":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-10a-10a-1-4-706"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}