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Oklahoma Department Of Corrections Interim Director Asks Legislature For More Funds

Joe Allbaugh
Greg Schaler
/
FEMA

State agency heads went before the Budget and Appropriations’ Public Safety Subcommittee meeting Thursday to argue their case as lawmakers try to close a huge budget hole. 

Department of Corrections Interim Director Joe Allbaugh spoke candidly about many of the challenges his department faces. The state prison system is currently at 122 percent capacity, and he said DOC might need to convert current classrooms to open-bay dorms to house offenders.

"Our men and women are at risk," Allbaugh said referring to corrections employees who work inside prisons across Oklahoma. "I worry about it," he said.

Allbaugh also said DOC had a 37 percent turnover rate for correctional officers last year. He expressed concern about the more than 500 vacant correctional officer positions now. 

“And I know everybody and their dog has needs, needs needs,” Allbaugh said.

“But if we don’t meet our needs and keep these folks incarcerated in these programs, someone’s going to get hurt, or worse case scenario, they’re going to die, whether it’s an inmate, a citizen of the state, or one of our good, good correctional officers.”

During his presentation, Allbaugh also alluded to the need to reform mandatory minimum sentencing.

"We’ve got to do something. If the incarceration rate continues as it is, we’re going to be in a world of hurt,” he said.

He suggested diverting low-level offenders out of the prison system and into some kind of treatment program.  

Lawmakers are currently struggling to find ways to close the now 1.3 billion dollar budget shortfall for next fiscal year.

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