Arizona Budget Issues Shut Down Oklahoma Prison & Jobs

By Colleen Chen, NEWS 9

WATONGA, Oklahoma -- Diamondback Correctional Facility in Watonga opened it's doors in 1998 and has since generated an $11 million payroll. Hundreds of workers in the area have depended on the jobs, but they will be gone on Friday.

Sandy Clark has worked at the private prison since day one.

"It's an emotional roller coaster for all of us who have been her a long time. It's a concern to our community, the impact this will have. Even just the number of people that come in from out of town," Clark said.

It's what worries waitresses at the Hi-De-Ho café that is located close to the prison. They believe they'll be losing big business.

"Probably quite a bit. We have a lot of regulars that come in that work in the prison that now have to move," said waitress Brandy Schroeder.

Clark said the jobs are leaving because the state of Arizona is having budget issues and chose to end the contract with the prison. In just one month, reduced prison staff has organized and sent over 2,000 inmates back to Arizona.

The prison's closure is forcing lifelong Oklahomans to either transfer to another facility or quit.

 At full workforce, the prison employed 382 people. There are only about 180 left who will be laid off on Friday. Prison officials said a handful of employees will serve as a skeleton crew to maintain the facility in hopes a new contract can be landed, but there is no guarantee that will happen anytime soon.