Inmates Moved from Overcrowded Canadian Co. Jail

Staff and Wire Reports

OKLAHOMA CITY - Officials in Canadian County have transferred 17 inmates to Dewey County to relieve overcrowding at the county jail.

Sheriff Randall Edwards says the county will have to transfer more inmates to get the jail's population down to its legal limit of 72. Edwards says 90 inmates were housed at the jail on Thursday.

The sheriff says it costs the county $10,200 a month to house the 17 inmates in Dewey County.

"It's extremely crowded in some areas you literally have to step on a table to walk through a cell to get around," said Sheriff Randall Edwards. "We have to get rid of approximately 20 more prisoners, inmates, to get down below our acceptable level of 72 beds."

The county has plans to build a new 310-bed facility at a cost for $17.9 million, but cannot pay for it after voters rejected a 2008 bond proposal that would have financed the construction.

The director of jail inspections for the state Health Department, Don Garrison, says he can ask the attorney general to close the jail if nothing is done. 

Garrison has been working closely with Canadian County officials regarding their overcrowded jail. He recognizes the county's willingness to correct the problem because he says if they don't the county could be face heavy fines.

"As long as they're making plans to correct this problem, well, then we will continue to work with them," Director of Jail Inspections Don Garrison said.

Due to the overcrowding the sheriff says there are 12,000 people within the county currently with warrants that they are unable to go after.