An opinion determining that in counties operating a county jail, multiple county officers and offices have both statutory and constitutional obligations to operate and maintain the jail. First, the county sheriff is responsible for the daily operation and maintenance of the jail for a county that has established and operates a jail. Second, the county commissioners have duties relating to establishing a county jail, annually inspecting the jail, and funding the jail. Third, the county excise board possesses a duty to ensure the county jail is adequately funded and has final approval authority for appropriation of county funds. 19 O.S.2021, § 180.65; 68 O.S.Supp.2023, § 3006–07. Because these duties are constitutional, a county must prioritize funding the operations and maintenance of the county jail before appropriating funds for statutory and other non-constitutional purposes.
