Oklahoma County voters pass $260 million bond measure for new jail

Oklahoma County voters on Tuesday approved $260 million of bonds to help finance the replacement of a troubled jail. 

The bond proposition in the county that includes Oklahoma City passed with 59.3% of the vote, according to unofficial election results, giving county commissioners the green light to move forward with the project, which had faced opposition due to its cost and from advocates of restorative justice over incarceration.

The 30-year serial bonds backed by property taxes will be sold next year in a competitive deal, according to County Commissioner Brian Maughan.

Oklahoma County Detention Center

He said on Wednesday that the bond issue will not increase the tax rate and that in addition to bond proceeds the county will be using general fund money to pay for the remainder of the $316 million project.

“(Federal American Rescue Plan Act funding) is not eligible to be directly spent on the construction of the jail, but there are things we can offset with our existing general fund expenses that are permissible that will free up our dollars in the general fund over the course of the next four years,” Maughan said.

The current 13-story detention center in Oklahoma City, which opened in 1991, had an average prisoner population of 1,622 in May.
County commissioners, who approved the bond referendum in April, said the current facility lacks space for medical and mental health treatment, as well as for recreation. They also agreed to create a citizens committee to oversee and make recommendations to the county board on the location, development, design, and construction of a new jail.

“I’m going to work quickly to put together the citizens oversight committee that we promised we would form after this passed so that they’re involved in the oversight beginning immediately,” Maughan said.

Local control of the jail was at risk due to the possibility of federal intervention. 

In 2008, the U.S. Department of Justice reported unsafe, overcrowded, and unsanitary conditions at the jail, as well as inadequate healthcare and mental healthcare services. Under a 2009 memorandum of understanding with the DOJ, the county agreed to take steps to improve conditions at the jail with the expectation that in four years the facility would be renovated or efforts would begin to replace or expand it.

The Oklahoma County Jail Trust took over management of the facility in 2020 and made improvements.