Memorial Held For Those Who Died In The Oklahoma County Detention Center

An emotional ceremony was held Saturday at the Oklahoma County Detention Center. The People's Council for Justice met to honor those who have died inside the jail while giving hope to those still inside.

A moment of silence was held for the 37 lives lost while in jail, 16 of those just last year. Organizers and family members placed a white cross outside on the lawn in from of the jail to represent each of the 16 lives lost in 2022.

Doctor Whiters gently placed a cross down for his friend John Basco.

“To see him pass away, it really hurt,” he said.

Whiters says he met Basco in prison and credits him for helping him turn his life around.

“It's people like him that is willing to risk his life to save the youth and that's what he did then and to lose him to a senseless death like that is a low blow,” Whiters said. “I don't really want the jail's reason why he died. The only thing I know is my brother is dead I saw him in a casket, and we buried him.”

Leann Smith lost her nephew, Andrew Michael Avelar.

“He's not a monster, he didn't deserve a death penalty here,” Smith said. “We shouldn't have to be here; the jail has to be accountable.”

Advocates, former inmates, and community leaders spoke during the ceremony about the need for reform within the jail system.

“Just because you're troubled doesn't mean that you can't change, that you can't grow and you can't become a better person,” said advocate Cherisse Baker.

However, with new jail administrator Brandi Garner, they’re hopeful conditions at the jail will change.

“You don't win if you don't fight and I’m here to say today that we are winning, we are winning because our efforts are brought about by change in what's going on right now,” said former Oklahoma Senator Connie Johnson.

Organizers say three to four deaths inside a jail is the national average. They hope to see that number drop to zero at the Oklahoma County Jail this year.