Pubdate: Fri, 12 Jul 2002
Source: Daily Ardmoreite, The (OK)
Copyright: 2002 Daily Ardmoreite
Contact: http://ardmoreite.com/stText/sendLetter.html
Website: http://www.ardmoreite.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1574
Author: The Stillwater NewsPress

TIME FOR LEGISLATURE TO STEP IN AND FIX PROBLEM WITH JAILS

The problem with the county jails in Oklahoma has been allowed to 
deteriorate to the point where the state must adopt the problem as its own. 
While there are exceptions, most problems at county jails can be attributed 
to two factors: growing inmate populations, largely due to the war on 
drugs; and county budgets increasingly called upon to fund other areas.

It is state and federal laws -- not county laws -- that put the inmates in 
those jails. The state also adds to the problem by housing people in county 
jails when its prisons are full.

Jail inmates must have housing that meets certain standards. The majority 
of county jails in Oklahoma are not meeting those standards.

It is beyond time for the Legislature to get involved.

First it must allow counties to form partnerships and construct regional 
facilities when economically prudent.

Second, it must fund improvements at current facilities until a long-term 
solution can be developed.

If these jails are not improved, the state will eventually be forced to 
pay-- through lawsuits.

It would be better -- and cheaper -- to do the right thing first.

- -- The Stillwater NewsPress
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom