OPEA

Oklahoma’s Department of Corrections will submit to the 2008 Oklahoma legislature a budget that surpassed a half-billion dollars for FY ‘09

According to the figures submitted to the Board of Corrections, prison officials will ask legislators for a $90 million funding increase, bringing its total budget to $572 million for the 2009 fiscal year.

DOC will also seek a $34.2 million supplemental appropriation for the current fiscal year to pay the private prisons that currently hold some 5,000 state prisoners. The original figure had been $40.3 million, but the difference was made up through temporary staff shortages and other savings, according to DOC administration.

Addressing the board, DOC executive director Justin Jones spoke on the issues of private prisons as well as an overcrowded system.

“Oklahoma’s inmate population remains above 98 percent with more than 25,000 prisoners in the system,” he said. “DOC dealt with an influx of about 700 inmates this year by seeking approval from prison inspectors and the state fire marshal to create new living quarters in existing prison buildings.”

Jones also said that as the state is at its contractual limit with private prisons, there is no more bed space available.

“All other space that Oklahoma didn’t have a contract for has been sold to the highest bidders from other states,” he said. “DOC looked for private prisons in other states that could house Oklahoma prisoners, but were unsuccessful.”

Jones said that Oklahoma lost its contract with a private prison in Hinton to hold about 800 state inmates when the company opted to seek a better deal with other states.

“Oklahoma pays among the lowest rates in the nation for private prisons,” Jones said. “It will be difficult for the state to rely on them without paying more.”

Despite crowding in the system, the ’09 budget opted to seek expansions for current properties. The department’s current budget calls for more than $300 in bond debt to pay for expansion and renovation of existing prisons.

“We will continue to monitor the situation at DOC on behalf of our members,” said Sterling Zearley, OPEA executive director. “Oklahoma has sold its soul to these private prisons and, unfortunately there continues to be a high price paid in taxpayer dollars as well as the safety and security of our citizens.”