INSPECTION DIDN’T HAPPEN IN EIGHT. INSPECTION REPORTS SINCE 2020, THE OKLAHOMA COUNTY JAIL HAS BEEN FOUND DEFICIENT BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. IN THE MOST RECENT ONE, THEY DIDN’T PASS BECAUSE THEY DIDN’T ALLOW INSPECTORS INSIDE. IT IS CLEAR THAT WE NEED A COMPLETE LOCKDOWN TAKEOVER OF THIS FACILITY. EIGHT IN A ROW. THAT’S HOW MANY TIMES THE OKLAHOMA COUNTY JAIL HAS HAD DEFICIENT HEALTH INSPECTIONS OR FOUND NOT UP TO STANDARD EIGHT IN A ROW. THERE’S ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSE FOR THIS. SEVERAL REASONS SINCE 2020, RANGING FROM CLEANLINESS, LACK OF SITE CHECKS, BED BUGS AND MORE. BUT THE LATEST JUST THIS WEEK NOT ALLOWING INSPECTORS INSIDE THE FACILITY, WHICH OSHA SAYS IS NOT COMMON. YOU DON’T NOT LET INVESTIGATORS IN UNLESS YOU’RE HIDING SOMETHING. WHILE CHRISTOPHER JOHNSTON WITH THE PEOPLE’S COUNCIL FOR JUSTICE REFORM SAYS THE FACILITY IS HIDING SOMETHING, THE COUNTY JAIL TELLS ME THEY DIDN’T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE ON DUTY TO ACCOMMODATE THE INSPECTION. THE DAY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SHOWED UP IN A STATEMENT, THEY SAY THEY’RE HAPPY TO WORK WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF INSPECTIONS, BUT MUST DO SO WITHOUT DISRUPTING STAFF AND RESIDENTS. WHEN UNANNOUNCED INSPECTORS ARE IN THE FACILITY, IT REQUIRES THEM TO MAKE STAFFING AND SECURITY CHANGES TO ACCOMMODATE THEM, AND IT’S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SAYS ONE ERROR CAN DEEM SOMEONE DEFICIENT, AND THEY ALSO INSPECT EVERY JAIL, EACH YEAR UNANNOUNCED REPORT
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Oklahoma County jail refuses inspection, found deficient
For years, the Oklahoma County Detention Center has been plagued with problems and failed site checks, but they failed recently for not allowing an inspection.
Meghan Mosley
Reporter
For years, the Oklahoma County Detention Center has been plagued with problems and failed site checks, but they failed recently for not allowing an inspection.Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.In eight inspection reports since 2020, the jail has been found deficient by the Oklahoma State Department of Health. According to the latest inspection report, jail staff refused to let inspectors inside.“It is clear that we need a complete lockdown takeover of this facility,” said Christopher Johnston, with the People’s Council for Justice Reform. “Eight in a row, there’s absolutely no excuse for this.”There have been several reasons for being labeled deficient in the past, ranging from cleanliness, lack of site checks, bed bugs and more. However, not letting inspectors inside the facility is not common, according to the health department.“You don’t not let investigators in unless you’re hiding something,” Johnston said.While Johnston thinks the facility has something to hide, the jail said they didn’t have enough people on duty to accommodate the inspection on the day the health department showed up.>> Download the KOCO 5 AppIn a statement, they said they’re happy to work with the health department, but that it cannot disrupt staff and residents:“We are more than happy to work with the health department to meet the requirements of inspections but must do so without disrupting the safe and secure operations of the facility. We must ensure the safety and security of our staff and residents. When unannounced inspectors are in the facility, it requires us to make certain staffing and security changes and we need to find a compromise so we can accommodate them and maintain the security and level of service for the residents and safety of the staff and visitors.”It's important to note that the health department said one error can deem someone deficient and that they do these inspections at the jail annually and always unannounced.Top HeadlinesKey moments from Biden and Trump’s first presidential debate of 202485-year-old man killed in Enid after being struck by stolen pickup filled with teensRyan Walters: Bible required to be taught in Oklahoma classroomsFriday June 28 Weekend Forecast6-year-old Tonkawa girl gets special ribbon cutting ceremony for entrepreneurship
OKLAHOMA CITY —
For years, the Oklahoma County Detention Center has been plagued with problems and failed site checks, but they failed recently for not allowing an inspection.
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
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In eight inspection reports since 2020, the jail has been found deficient by the Oklahoma State Department of Health. According to the latest inspection report, jail staff refused to let inspectors inside.
“It is clear that we need a complete lockdown takeover of this facility,” said Christopher Johnston, with the People’s Council for Justice Reform. “Eight in a row, there’s absolutely no excuse for this.”
There have been several reasons for being labeled deficient in the past, ranging from cleanliness, lack of site checks, bed bugs and more. However, not letting inspectors inside the facility is not common, according to the health department.
“You don’t not let investigators in unless you’re hiding something,” Johnston said.
While Johnston thinks the facility has something to hide, the jail said they didn’t have enough people on duty to accommodate the inspection on the day the health department showed up.
>> Download the KOCO 5 App
In a statement, they said they’re happy to work with the health department, but that it cannot disrupt staff and residents:
“We are more than happy to work with the health department to meet the requirements of inspections but must do so without disrupting the safe and secure operations of the facility. We must ensure the safety and security of our staff and residents. When unannounced inspectors are in the facility, it requires us to make certain staffing and security changes and we need to find a compromise so we can accommodate them and maintain the security and level of service for the residents and safety of the staff and visitors.”
It's important to note that the health department said one error can deem someone deficient and that they do these inspections at the jail annually and always unannounced.
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