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Lawmakers Want Prison Funding Discussed In Special Session

Jelle Vancoppenolle
/
Flickr.com

Some Oklahoma lawmakers with state prison facilities in their districts are asking Gov. Mary Fallin to include corrections funding in any special legislative session she calls.

Nine state senators and 12 members of the House have signed a petition calling for corrections funding to be addressed if a special session is called by the governor.

Fallin is considering calling a special session to consider restoring laws overturned by the state Supreme Court that were designed to cut businesses' legal liability costs.

But Rep. Gus Blackwell of Laverne says state prisons are about 98 percent full and only about 62 percent of state correctional officer positions are filled.

Blackwell says state officials need to do more to maintain security in the state's crowded prisons and to protect the public.

 

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