60 percent of county jails cited for staffing

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- 60 percent of Oklahoma's county jails were cited last year for not having enough jailers on duty.<br/><br/>Sheriffs in the state say they want more jailers, but can't afford

Monday, May 2nd 2005, 9:36 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- 60 percent of Oklahoma's county jails were cited last year for not having enough jailers on duty.

Sheriffs in the state say they want more jailers, but can't afford to hire them.

Now a bill in the state Senate could provide some relief to smaller county jails.

The bill would allow for fewer jailers at jails holding between 20 and 75 inmates -- if the jails have electronic monitoring or closed-circuit television.

But state jail inspector Don Garrison says cameras don't necessarily take the place of a jailer. Garrison says some inmates have committed suicide while people sat inside a control room and watched the monitors.