On Thursday, December 16, I visited the Oklahoma County Jail. I think it’s important to share what I witnessed while I was there and some of what I’ve learned from the experience.
Jail cells, notice the locks on the doors
What I saw was unforgettable. I keep thinking back to the woman I saw asleep on a bench, waiting in the medical area.
What will her baby’s future look like? Will she get the support she needs to discover a more promising future for herself and the tiny human she’ll soon be responsible for?
Common area
Not only is our jail in extremely poor conditions, but it was never set up for success.
The cells were built for maximum security, which is perplexing because 80% of the jail population is pretrial. They haven’t been convicted of anything, yet they are being housed as if they are the most violent criminals.
The jail is 13 stories tall. It has 3 elevators for conducting all movement within the space.
Sad.
This wheelchair is in the medical area. It’s held together by medical bandages.
As you can imagine, with a population of 1,672 (as of 12/17/21), getting around for medical needs, serving food, transporting individuals to and from trial, bringing in new people, etc. Three elevators is NOT a lot. They are constantly waiting–which leads to more issues when needs are urgent.
The ONLY outdoor space is on the 13th floor. It is this tiny basketball court. Because of logistical issues with transportation, most people will never see this space during their time in jail.
The average days a person is detained in the jail is 126.6 days. You can learn more current stats about the jail’s population, bonds, demographics on the Criminal Justice Advisory Council’s dashboard.
I think when we see BIG issues like this one it’s natural to want to find someone to blame, but I’d like to challenge that idea.
Our jail is inhumane, and it’s an embarrassment for our community.
We are all to blame for its conditions. Whether you interact with the criminal justice system or not, it’s a part of our community. The individuals inside of the jail are our neighbors and fellow community residents.
We must remain on the same team as we move towards progress.
I want to acknowledge and commend the people who choose to work at our jail. I can’t imagine going to work in such a tough place day after day. I wish for strength for them and everyone who interacts with the jail as we invest in solutions for the future of Oklahoma County.
The information that I’ve shared is just a start to the conversation that we must have.
If you want to learn more about the jail and the importance of criminal justice reform in Oklahoma City, I encourage you to visit Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Advisory Council | CJAC (okcountycjac.com).
Please join me in staying vigilant in this journey. We all deserve it.