Oklahoma DOC Requesting Law Change To Lower Age Requirement For Corrections Officers To 18

The Oklahoma Department of Corrections is requesting legislation to allow the hiring of 18 and 19-year-olds to work in state prisons.  

Last year, the department made a similar request to change the current minimum age of 20 but no lawmaker sponsored the measure.  

Department officials said they are discussing details of the possible legislation with state lawmakers.  

“In this legislative request, neither the training nor the standards for employment would change other than decreasing the minimum age to 18 for positions in this new classification,” said Josh Ward, DOC Public Information Manager.  

When asked if teenage staff members would be allowed to interact directly inmates, Ward said, “Posts will be assigned appropriately based upon ability and experience.”  

Bobby Cleveland, the executive director of the union Oklahoma Corrections Professionals, said the proposal is a response to “dangerous” low staffing levels across the state.  

Cleveland said the proposal could put young staff members in danger, particularly if they are assigned to positions that involve inmate interactions.  

“The thing I’m worried about with these 18, 19-year-olds, we’re going to get somebody killed,” Cleveland said. “That’s my main concern, that an officer is going to get hurt.”  

As of late October, about 27% of the department’s correctional officer positions were unfilled, according to documents from the Board of Corrections. The document stated 471 of the 1,759 positions were open as of Oct. 31.  

Cleveland said he does not support opening job applications to teenagers. Instead, he said he’s advocating for pay raises for correctional officers.  

“We’ve got to do something. We’re in terrible, terrible shape,” he said. “Staffing is dangerous. It could break loose anytime.”