Oklahoma County Commissioners Vote Against Dissolving Jail Trust

The Oklahoma County Commissioners decided Monday, for now, not to dissolve the jail trust.

Their consideration and vote happened just one week after the hostage situation that left a correctional officer injured and an inmate dead.

For the trust to be dissolved it would take more than just this vote. District 2 County Commissioner Brian Maughan told News 9 it would take a majority vote from both the commission and the jail trust, and then the governor would ultimately have to sign off on the decision.

The vote was unanimous against dissolving the trust and came after about an hour in executive session with District Attorney David Prater.

"I did vote today to not move forward with dissolving the trust, but it doesn't mean I'm not frustrated, " said District 1 County Commissioner Carrie Blumert.

Both Commissioners Maughan and Blumert said the DA was the one that requested the item be placed on the agenda.

Prater has been critical of the trust in the past, calling them "incompetent" and "a failure". But both commissioners said the DA put the item on the agenda out of concern and to lay out all the commissioners' options.

In the future those options could involve a new administrator. The position is held right now by Greg Williams.

"In my opinion Mr. Williams still has the support of the commissioners and the trust, and it's my understanding he is putting in a correction plan..." said Maughan. 

Right now, commissioners are looking for improvements in safety and staffing, but the way the jail is run and the administration could be revisited.

Read: Low Staffing, Escape Attempts & Over Crowding Plague Oklahoma County Jail

Despite Monday's vote, considering dissolving the jail trust is also not completely off the table.

"Yes, if we don't see improvement in the next couple of months or even weeks, I would consider it," said Blumert.

Blumert said her preference has always been having someone other than law enforcement running the operation at the jail, but at this point she wants to do what is best for the safety of the community.

"If people are continuing to die and continue to be in horrible situations, then we have to do something different," said Blumert.

Commissioner Kevin Calvey did not speak with News 9 after the meeting, but he did send a statement.

"I have full confidence in the leadership of our Jail Trust Chair, Tricia Everest, as we continue to improve jail operations for staff first, and also for inmates," said Calvey.