Cleveland County jail population exceeds design capacity

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) -- Cleveland County commissioners are hoping to sell general obligation bonds to pay for building a new jail -- but don't know how soon that can be done.<br/><br/>The current jail

Monday, May 23rd 2005, 9:19 am

By: News On 6

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) -- Cleveland County commissioners are hoping to sell general obligation bonds to pay for building a new jail -- but don't know how soon that can be done.

The current jail was built in 1984 with a capacity of 139 prisoners. Sheriff DeWayne Beggs says now there are an average of 214 prisoners per day in the crowded facility.

As a temporary solution commissioners have agreed to rent space in Pottawatomie County's jail in Shawnee, but Beggs says that's not the safest solution and will cost about $250,000 a year.

County Commissioner George Skinner says he knows the sheriff wants a new jail, but Skinner says it takes time to find land, hire an architect and hold an election asking voters to approve the bonds.