Hopes for geriatric prison dim

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The chances of Oklahoma getting a geriatric prison are dimming, but Corrections Director James Saffle said he has not given up hope. <br><br>Federal officials stopped a grant to

Monday, April 17th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The chances of Oklahoma getting a geriatric prison are dimming, but Corrections Director James Saffle said he has not given up hope.

Federal officials stopped a grant to be used for the prison, saying the state's truth-in-sentencing law was not strict enough to qualify Oklahoma for the award.

Saffle said he hopes the grant could still come the state's way if legislatores increase the number of crimes under the truth-in-sentencing law. Truth-in-sentencing means that inmates serve 85 percent of their prison sentences for certain crimes.

The prison suffered another setback when $2.9 million that had been earmarked for it was diverted to offset the department's need for a supplemental appropriation.

"I believe in doing things in phases," said Saffle. "Sometimes you don't get the full monies to build something. You do it by phases until you get it built."

Ground has been broken for a proposed $6 million, 250-bed facility near the Harp Correctional Center in Lexington. The department would also like to use an almost empty building on the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center campus for a prison hospital. "We are still pursuing that," said Saffle.