State lawmakers to visit McAlester prison

Friday, June 24th 2005, 6:08 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) â€“ State Senator Kenneth Corn will lead a group of senators on a tour of the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester to illustrate the need for more funding for prison guards.

Corn is chairman of the state Senate budget subcommittee that handles prison funding.

He has criticized state House Speaker Todd Hiett for opposing Governor Brad Henry's proposal to increase funding for prisons at a special legislative session that is now in recess.

Corn says a private prison in Holdenville had to be locked down last weekend to prevent a riot among prisoners.

He says a shortage of guards has created a security crisis in the prison system.

The tour is scheduled for Monday.