The Oklahoma County Jail has once again come under scrutiny following the latest inspection by the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH), which revealed a range of issues from infestations to missed safety checks. According to KFOR's report, an OSDH 72-page document exposed concerns such as bed bug complains, mice infestations, and more. The facility, which has not passed an inspection since 2019, failed to hold up to standards of cleanliness, daily function, and staffing.
In a span of four days in December, the state health department's inspectors discovered that hundreds of sight checks were incomplete. News 4 detailed the deficient areas, including instances where proper inmate supervision faltered due to a lack of available staff. Echoing the staffing concerns, a KOCO report highlighted deficiencies in medical procedures, medication administration, and faulty intercom systems inside the cells. The report mentioned an alarming 98 hourly sight checks not performed between December 5 and 10, 2024.
The conditions within the Oklahoma County Detention Center have raised flags for advocacy groups. Steve Hunt with the People's Council for Justice Reform expressed frustration, saying, "For so long we've been sounding the alarm and talking about it and nothing's getting done. And so I would honestly, this new year, like for more folks to start paying attention and seeing what they can do to help," according to an OKC FOX report.
The OSDH report illuminated additional alarm, documenting inmates housed on floors, 132 missed hourly sight checks in one housing pod alone, and noncompliance with the deaths reporting of inmates. Furthermore, the report found that only twelve detention officers were working to oversee approximately 1,400 inmates during December 6, 2024. The state health department's findings also pointed to issues regarding prescribed medications, with some inmates receiving improper dosages and others not receiving care at all. The challenges of sanitation and living conditions proved stark, with reports of urine in a cell, rodent infestation, and hygiene concerns, including inmates not showering as frequently as laws mandate.
