This statement is in response to today's Criminal Justice and Corrections committee meeting.
The
Oklahoma Department of Corrections takes seriously the safety and
security of our staff and inmates. During today’s Criminal Justice and
Corrections committee meeting, Representative Justin Humphrey made
multiple untrue claims. He began by saying an inmate at the Great Plains
Correctional Center is currently hospitalized for injuries resulting
from rape. This is entirely inaccurate. The agency has a zero-tolerance
policy when it comes to Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) allegations.
This is displayed through the swiftness with which our agents arrested
the correctional officer seen having sex with a Mabel Bassett
Correctional Center inmate in the video provided to us.
Rep.
Humphrey stated he receives reports of rapes; however, he has not
reported any of these incidents to ODOC’s Office of the Inspector
General and has continued to make vague statements, which cannot be
investigated. No outside law enforcement agency has contacted us about
potential rape reports.
Rep. Humphrey’s commenting deaths
within our facilities were preventable is pure speculation on his part.
Our medical and mental health teams genuinely care about those
incarcerated and work diligently to provide the best care possible. His
report of an inmate screaming for hours in pain again is one of the many
baseless statements made today.
There was no outbreak of
meningitis at GPCC. There was only one case of meningitis, which
unfortunately resulted in a fatality. Another inmate presented with
symptoms but was medically cleared after extensive tests. We followed
our protocols and the Oklahoma State Department of Health guidelines,
which mitigated any spread. We reported this information from the
beginning in the spirit of complete transparency.
ODOC has been
open about the need for more security staff. The unit dedicated to
recruiting new correctional officers is constantly working and has
proven successful. Thirty cadets graduated earlier this month, and after
receiving hundreds of applications, we are currently interviewing for
the next academy. Our attrition rate is on the decline, which is a clear
indication of the culture shift within ODOC.
ODOC constantly evaluates all operations, making decisions based on data and facts. We continue to work closely with all members of the Legislature, operating in transparency while protecting public safety.
###
Media Contact:
Kay Thompson, chief of Public Relations
kay.thompson@doc.ok.gov
cell: 405-212-7578
