OPEA

Across Oklahoma, small towns are being presented with the same tired delusion that a private prison in the community will bring sudden prosperity.  The latest locales to be given the private prison hard sell are Warner, Stroud, Lindsay and Lawton.  In these communities, brave citizens have been fighting city hall to prevent their industrial authorities from buying into the scheme.

“Corrections professionals know the trouble a private prison brings to a community,” said OPEA Policy and Research Director Trish Frazier.  “They are a burden to the local water, sewer, transportation, and public safety infrastructure.  When something happens in the prison, state workers are forced to quell the disturbance and take the trouble makers off their hands.”

In each of these communities, citizens have taken it upon themselves to fight the initiative, which are being peddled by slick public relations professionals, lawyers, and even personalities, such as Barry Switzer.  In the past few months, due to the fight and petition drive of Steve and Kim Beck of Stroud, the Geo group has moved their proposal for expansion to Lawton.  Nick Thompson, a local citizen, worked with OPEA to put a letter to the editor in the Muskogee paper shedding light on the Warner proposal, which is now dormant. 

“The most pressing threat is in Lindsay, where CEC-Civigenics claims they want to build a geriatric prison to help keep bed usage up at the local community hospital,” said Frazier.  “In spite of the fact that DOC officials have said that they have no money for these beds, speculators are selling the ‘if you build it, they will come’ concept to the city council.”

Frazier addressed the Lindsay City Council in June.  However, the most important contact is from local citizens questioning the proposal. 

After attempting to build in Stroud, the Geo Group has moved their efforts to Comanche County, near Lawton.  Their latest scheme is to build a medium security prison for over 1,500 inmates.  According to the MGT Audit of the Oklahoma corrections system, the current Lawton facility had the highest turnover rate in Oklahoma at 95 percent.

Rumors are circulating about Avalon locating a juvenile prison near Hennessey.  Avalon lost their contract with the Office of Juvenile Affairs at Union City, when the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth reported problems at the facility. 

“Constituents must question these proposals and tell local officials they don’t want this kind of economic development,” said Frazier.  “It is especially important that corrections professionals and state employees educate your local officials about the problems of private prisons and privatization.”

To help fight private prisons in your area or notify OPEA of a private prison trying to locate in your community, contact Trish Frazier at the OPEA office:  trishf@opea.org , 405-524-6764 or 800-880-6732.