Okla. County Officials Brainstorm On New Detention Center Ideas

Oklahoma County leaders and jail administrators are touring jails to get ideas for a new detention center.

The jail was built two years ago and can house more than 700 inmates. The facility sits on about 30 acres. Assistant Jail Administrator Stacie Hankins said they've come a long way.

“They designed a one way in one way out flow for this. There's also where new inmates don't meet old inmates. We designed that specifically that way,” Lt. Hankins said.

The Sheriff, David Duke, said he’s happy to show it off.

“Their eyes were wide open. They're like a five-year-old in Toys R Us,” Duke said.

He said their old jail was multi-story.

“I’ve seen rust move faster than those elevators,” Duke said.

Jail Trust CEO Brandi Garner said she’s looking forward to moving away from a multiple level facility.

“Anytime you have an elevator it's going to in a jail it's going to increase your response time,” Garner said.

Right now, Oklahoma County officials are considering six locations with two being near Will Rogers Airport.

Here’s a list of locations they’re considering:

1. 71 acres of land located at 1901 E. Grand Boulevard 
2. 53 Acres of land located at 6945 S. Post Road, near Post Road and 74th Street 
3. 45 acres of land located on the south side of I-40 ¼ mile east of Douglas Boulevard 
4. Up to 160 acres of land located at 5201 South Meridian Avenue 
5. Up to 192 Acres of land located between south Newcastle Road and SW 54th Street 
6. Existing jail site located at 201 N Shartel Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK. 73102. 

Before a site is chosen, they're touring other facilities built by the architecture firm that will build the new Oklahoma County jail. 

Garner said a few things she noticed- bigger windows in cells and a less restrictive intake and booking area. The Wichita County Detention Center also has space for more programs.

“If we have programs here, we have to pull them out into the basketball courts which are on each floor,” Garner said.

Garner hopes the new jail will also include diversion services.

“I would love to see a one stop shop for those types of programs. It opens up a lot of options for us,” Garner said.