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Mold has made it necessary to vacate certain sections of the Oklahoma City jail.
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Some offices have been abandoned.
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For health reasons, doors have been taped shut.
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A large office space stands in ruins.
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Flooding from floors above brings heavy water and flooding into the ceilings downstairs.
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The outdoor booking entry for inmates is also serving as the kitchen
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Outdoors, the jail has been forced to create a make-shift kitchen.
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The Sally Port area is now a kitchen where every meal is prepared and cooked for all inmates.
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The Sally Port area is now a kitchen where every meal is prepared and cooked for all inmates.
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The outdoor drive for bringing in inmates must serve as the kitchen.
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The outdoor driveway for bringing in inmates must serve as the kitchen.
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Water from above floors – from poorly constructed plumbing – floods the 1st floor.
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Our Broken Jail

Extended Online Commentary

by Anne M. Richardson

We rely on the Sheriff’s office to serve our county and maintain the inmates at the Oklahoma County Jail. But with the disastrous conditions and health concerns, the jail is a challenging workplace for employees and a safety concern.

The Oklahoma Senior Journal’s editor, Robin Gunn, and I were invited to visit with Sheriff P.D. Taylor, Corporal Kim Lopez, and Public Information Officer Mark Opgrande to learn more about the community program TRIAD, which helps seniors become aware of scams and crime in their area (see page 16 online of this issue.)

While at the Oklahoma County Jail, it was impossible to ignore the state of the facility in ruins. The sheriff’s office struggles with maintaining the poorly designed and constructed jail daily. Lawmakers know the answer is more funding. For the last six months, as “interim sheriff,” Sheriff Taylor has not had a vote as he usually would on the board affecting the budget. Even so, the funding decisions do not rest solely with Sheriff Taylor, but with lawmakers and ultimately taxpayers. Possible solutions may include a county tax, or finding funds to allocate to this issue. The poor design has tallied up costs over the years that have become astronomical while still not fixing the problems. Taxpayer costs go to damage control areas such as:

• inadequate, poorly-designed plumbing, creating massive flooding and mold. This leaves sections of the jail closed off, with damage to ceiling tiles, equipment, lighting and alarm systems

• inadequate, poorly-designed plumbing, creating massive flooding and mold. This leaves sections of the jail closed off, with damage to ceiling tiles, equipment, lighting and alarm systems

• multiple lawsuits

• unsuitable electrical wiring and ceiling tiles in cells

• insufficient space encompassing many issues:- severe inmate overcrowding- one pod area converted to a medical bay with the Chief  Medical Officer’s office in a cell – no outdoor recreational area

Stay tuned to the “Rise & Thrive with the OSJ Radio Hour” for more in-depth coverage on the jail. The radio shows can be found on the OSJ app as well as on air (text ‘Oksenior’ to 95577 to download the app.)
You can also call Mark Opgrande at 713-1029 to find out what else
you can do as a concerned county citizen because only we can make a difference.
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