Oklahoma's jail woes decrease

Email a friend

State jail inspector Don Garrison remembers a time not long ago when meetings with county commissioners statewide filled his daily calendar. He coaxed, cajoled and, when all else failed, ordered county officials to replace antiquated and overcrowded jails with new facilities to meet state and federal regulations.

Garrison’s calendar is no longer full. His battles are few and far between.

"It’s different,” said Garrison, who began his work in January 1997. "I don’t have as many county commissioners to meet now. I no longer have to go over and over and over the push for new jails.”

Since 1997, 38 of Oklahoma’s 77 counties have built new jails or annexes or undergone extensive remodeling. Only seven holdout counties remain in violation of government codes. Those seven counties are in the planning stages of building new jails.

Caddo, Canadian, Cleveland, Delaware, Kay, Seminole, Washington and Washita county jails are currently operating in violation of state and federal codes for one reason or another.

"We knew the day was coming,” said James Gee, chairman of the Washita County commissioners in Cordell. "It was just a matter of time.”

The Washita County jail, built in 1940, is old, like dozens of jails Garrison has inspected.

"Right now we’re visiting other jails,” Gee said. "We’ll hire an architect and eventually go into the different communities and explain to voters why this must be done.”

Prediction comes true Delaware County offers a prime example of the importance of building the right facility on the first try. In 2000, Delaware County unveiled a new courthouse and jail — a jail Garrison predicted would be too small to house its prison population.

Garrison was right.