Black caucus to hear about racial violence in prison

Thursday, September 29th 2005, 7:25 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Department of Corrections officials, ex-convicts and inmate family members will appear on Saturday at a hearing to discuss racial violence in Oklahoma's prisons.

Sponsored by the Oklahoma Legislative Black Caucus, the hearing will focus on racial animosity in prisons that contributes to the high level of violence.

Representative Opio Toure of Oklahoma City chairs the Oklahoma Legislative Black Caucus. Toure says lawmakers are concerned that prisons could erupt any day, resulting in significant loss of life because of racial violence.

Racial animosity has been blamed for two prison deaths in the past several months.

The hearing will be held in the state Senate chamber beginning at 10 AM.