Inspector tells Woodward County officials to up staffing at the county jail or face fines

WOODWARD, Okla. (AP) -- Woodward County officials aren't sure where they'll get the money to comply with staffing requirements set by the Oklahoma Department of Health.<br><br>Undersheriff Gary

Saturday, April 10th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

WOODWARD, Okla. (AP) -- Woodward County officials aren't sure where they'll get the money to comply with staffing requirements set by the Oklahoma Department of Health.

Undersheriff Gary Stanley estimates it will cost $100,000 to fix violations state jail inspector Don Garrison found during a recent visit.

The lockup has until the end of May to increase staffing so that there are three jailers on duty at all times, a letter from the jail inspection division says.

Otherwise, the county could be facing fines of up to $10,000 a day.

Other counties could be affected as jail inspectors start enforcing staffing requirements, Garrison said.

Inspectors now will begin writing up violations against counties, which had until January to comply.

Woodward County needs to hire three people -- one for each eight-hour shift.

County commissioners have discussed contacting the city to see if it could provide some help and have suggested getting deputies to help out.

"If we put deputies in the jail, we won't have any to answer calls and serve papers," he said. "That isn't a viable option."

Stanley said he thought the county was in compliance since officials added employees to make sure a male and a female jailer are there at all times.

Recent inspections showed the county must have a jailer to back up any jailer going into inmate areas.

Stanley said he thought the second jailer could serve as the backup.

Garrison, however, said the county must have a jailer in the control center at all times so that jailer cannot back up one in the inmate area.

Garrison says most sheriffs have found a way to comply.