Jails
The laws of the State of Oklahoma required the Oklahoma State Department of Health to develop standards for detention facility operation and monitor detention facility compliance with those standards. Based on Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes at Section 192, the Department is required to inspect all city and county detention facilities at least once each year to ensure they follow the standards. The standards adopted based on the law address the following areas:
- admission & release procedures
- security measures
- sanitary conditions
- diet
- clothing & living area
- detention facility staff training
- safety and segregation of women, the infirm, and minors
- medical care
- twenty-four hour supervision
- emergency exits
- inmate education of facility rules
- holding facilities for the incarceration of persons no longer than twelve (12) hours
- Visit our COVID-19 website for more information.
- OSDH COVID-19 Call Center: Dial 211
- American Jails Association
- National Institute of Corrections (NIC)
Detention Program COVID-19 Guidance
CDC Resources Links
Based on Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes at Section 193, inspectors employed by the Department are authorized by law to enter all detention facility premises and administrative offices to perform their duties. The results of the Department's inspections are provided in a written report to the Commissioner of Health and to the person immediately responsible for the administration of the facility. The report contains:
- a list of deficiencies in the condition or operation of the facility and specific proposals for their solution; and
- a statement as to whether or not the facility inspected is in substantial compliance with the detention facility standards.
If the deficiencies listed in the report have not been corrected within sixty (60) days after delivery of the report, the Commissioner of Health is authorized to file a complaint with the Attorney General or the district attorney. The timing of a revisit is dependent on the nature and severity of the deficiencies identified, pending workload, and resources. The Commissioner of Health will extend the time for compliance by reasonable period before filing the complaint based on a good faith effort by the governmental entity involved to correct the deficiencies.
- 74 O.S. § 192, Inspection of City and County Jails - Standards
- 74 O.S. § 193, Right of Entry -Report of Inspection
- 74 O.S. § 194, Deficient Facility - Closing
- Title 310. Chapter 670. City and County Detention Facility Standards
- 310: 670-1-2 - Sight Checks Lockup
- Subchapter 5: Standards for Detention Facilities
- Selected Detention Facility Statutes: A collection of applicable detention facility laws
Follow this link for instructions in making a complaint
- JID2016-06 Detention Facility Standards Clarification & Updates on Holding Facilities (09-14-2016)
- JID2018-01 Suspend Detention Facility Testing (09-2019)
Open Forms in Acrobat Reader
- Detention Facility Incident Report Form - Download to desktop for best results.
- Detention Facility Complaint Form - Download to desktop for best results.
- Correctional Officer Training Documentation Log. - To be placed into employees training file. No Approval Required.
- Training Program Approval Request Form - Download to desktop for best results.
- Fire Drill Form (Sample)
- U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Corrections: Detention Facility Administration Resources
- Oklahoma State Fire Marshal’s Office Official Interpretation and Code Directive 2013-3
- International Fire Code (IFC) Fire Drills
- Required Policy and Procedures
- Site Checks
- Training and Documentation
- Post Orders
- Documents for Review
- Jail Administrator Training (March 8, 2022)
- OSDH Jail Admin training (March 8, 2022)
310:670-5-11. Physical plant
(b) New facilities and substantial remodeling of facilities (after January 1, 1992). Plans for the construction of a new facility or the substantial remodeling of an existing facility shall be submitted to the Department for review and approval. Detention facilities are encouraged to submit plans to the Department for any re-modeling or repair that does not meet the substantial remodeling threshold to ensure standards are met.
Listed are the steps in the construction process:
- Submit COMPLETE SET OF SIGNED AND SEALED PLANS to OSDH for approval. Contact OSDH Detention Program and a BOX account will be created for the submittal of the electronic copy of the plans.
- Provide documentation denoting plans were submitted to the State Fire Marshal and the plans have been approved.
- Provide documentation the State Fire Marshal’s 50% inspection is completed, and we will complete a 50% inspection.
- Our Department will conduct a Final Inspection and Capacity Rating after the receipt of the State Fire Marshal’s Final Inspection and Approval report.
Contact Information
Email: PHSWorkforce@health.ok.gov
Phone: (405) 426-8468
Contact Information
Mailing Address:
Oklahoma State Department of Health
Detention Program
123 Robert S. Kerr. Ave., Suite 1702
Oklahoma City, OK 73102-6406
Physical Address:
Oklahoma State Department of Health
Detention Program
123 Robert S. Kerr Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK
Phone: (405) 426-8170
Fax: (405) 900-7575
Email: jails@health.ok.gov