Okla. Co. Advisory Board To Recommend Building New Jail, Points To Building Failures

As local government officials mull over a proposal to build a new jail in Oklahoma County, an advisory council is pointing to the issues with the current facility. 

The Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Advisory Council (CJAC), a board made up of criminal justice leaders in Oklahoma City and the county, organized a tour of the Oklahoma County Detention Center with members of the media on Thursday. 

Tim Tardibono, CJAC executive director, led the tour and pointed to structural failures with the current facility. He said the advisory council is focusing on the construction of a new jail instead of renovating the building at 201 N. Shartel Ave. 

“We’re coming to the conclusion that the renovation idea, for the taxpayer, is just not cost-effective,” Tardibono said. 

Jail staff described issues caused by overcrowding, limited mobility, and a building design that did not originally include a medical unit. 

Related: Audit Of Oklahoma County Detention Center Finds Over A Dozen Health Violations, Shows Lack Of Staffing

“This is not a medical unit. It’s a converted housing unit,” said Amanda Merriott, health services administrator for Turn Key Health, the jail’s health provider. 

Last month, CJAC members directed consultant groups to research possible designs and costs of a new facility. Initial estimates provided by the consultants showed a new facility could cost roughly $300 million. 

One idea to fund the construction of a new jail is to use $150 million allotted to the county through the federal American Rescue Plan Act to avoid adding or increasing taxes. 

The council will discuss that research on Nov. 18 and pass on a recommendation to the board of Oklahoma County Commissioners.