New Regulations May Mean Less DOC Inmates in County Jails

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- New state Department of Corrections<br>regulations could mean some county sheriffs will quit housing state<br>inmates.<br>The sheriffs say it will cost too much to comply with the<br>regulations,

Wednesday, September 1st 1999, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- New state Department of Corrections
regulations could mean some county sheriffs will quit housing state
inmates.
The sheriffs say it will cost too much to comply with the
regulations, which stem from surprise inspections by corrections
officials that turned up some shortfalls in living conditions for
inmates.
To help offset the cost of implementing the rules, the state is
increasing the daily rate paid per inmate from 24 dollars to 31
dollars.
New rules include at least 120 hours of training for jailers, an
average of at least three jailers on duty each shift, more forms
and paperwork, segregating state prisoners from county prisoners
and physical renovations in some jails.
To make up for a shortfall of state owned prison beds and space
leased from private jails, the state began paying counties to hold
some inmates several years ago. Officials say 23 county jails
currently hold about 275 inmates.