Ryan Patrick Woolley

Ryan Patrick Woolley | National Crime Victim Service Award
Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation
Tulsa, Oklahoma

Special Agent Ryan Woolley has been employed with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) and assigned to the Crime Scene Unit for 6 years. Agent Woolley has seen some of the most heinous crime scenes committed in Oklahoma, as he predominantly works violent death cases. 

Through the violent crime investigations that Agent Woolley has worked across the state, he realized that victims and families of victims are often left in limbo regarding whom they should contact for victim services after the initial investigation. It could take a distraught victim some time to locate the correct district attorney’s office, the medical examiner, a victim advocate, or even the correct OSBI office for follow-up information. 

After the loss of a loved one or personally being a victim, it is oftentimes frustrating to a victim when they are unable to find information—especially when some victims do not have access to the internet or a computer. Recognizing this gap in services, Agent Woolley assembled a victim handbook that simplified the process for victims. He developed color-coded maps with coinciding phone numbers for the jurisdictions where crimes occurred. 

The handbook includes information on the procedures for court from start to finish, how to receive information on convicted offenders, and websites for victim’s support and counseling, and contact information for the district attorneys’ offices, medical examiners, and OSBI victim advocates in the various regions and districts. By providing these informational handbooks to victims, agents are able to focus their time, especially early in the case, investigating the crime and working leads. 

While similar victim handbooks may be provided to victims by some local police departments, Agent Woolley realized this wasn’t as likely in large agencies, like OSBI, which covers 77 counties and numerous district attorneys’ offices across Oklahoma. He spent many hours researching the most effective way to provide the information in a simple to use handbook. He secured funding by working with agency Victim Support Services to have the handbooks printed and distributed to the six regions of OSBI. 

Agent Woolley recognized a problem that existed for crime victims, created a solution, and provided a much needed service to help victims during a tragic time.