Private Prison Adding 720 Beds

CUSHING, Okla. (AP) -- Plans are under way to add 720 medium-security beds to the privately owned Cimarron Correctional Facility near Cushing. Warden Charles Ray says the expansion should be complete

Monday, July 16th 2007, 10:14 am

By: News On 6

CUSHING, Okla. (AP) -- Plans are under way to add 720 medium-security beds to the privately owned Cimarron Correctional Facility near Cushing. Warden Charles Ray says the expansion should be complete by next fall and will add 60 to 70 new jobs at the prison.

The expansion will include two new housing units with 360 beds each and a security upgrade with a new "stun fence" to replace the present interior fence.

The prison currently has about 960 inmates from the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. But spokeswoman Kimberly James says it's not known yet where the inmates will come from once the expansion is complete.

The prison is owned by Tennessee-based Corrections Corporation of America.