THIS WORKS. YEAH, THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HAS ANNUAL UNANNOUNCED VISITS TO EVERY JAIL ACROSS THE STATE. SO WHEN THEY COULDN’T GET INSIDE THE OKLAHOMA COUNTY JAIL, THEY COUNTED THAT AS A FAILED INSPECTION. BUT THE OKLAHOMA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY, VICKI ZIEMBA, SAYS THEIR REASONING IS VOID. OUR CURRENT JUDGMENT NOT TO ALLOW THESE SURPRISE INVESTIGATIONS IS THE RIGHT COURSE ON JUNE 25TH, THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FOUND THE OKLAHOMA COUNTY JAIL DEFICIENT BECAUSE THE JAIL REFUSED TO LET INSPECTORS INSIDE THE FACILITY FOR AN UNANNOUNCED INSPECTION MONDAY, KOCO UNCOVERED A LETTER FROM THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE INVITING THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT BACK ON SPECIFIED DATES. SURPRISE INSPECTIONS DO NOT BENEFIT ANYONE, ABSOLUTELY ANYONE, AND IT PUTS OUR ENTIRE STAFF. IN A POSITION WHERE THEY HAVE TO PICK PICK WHICH SEMESTER THEY’RE GOING TO LISTEN TO, THE JAIL TRUST, WHICH OVERSEES THE OPERATIONS OF THE JAIL, SAYS THEY WEREN’T STAFFED UP AT THE TIME OF THE INSPECTION AND SAYS THEY NEED A HEADS UP FOR THE NEXT TIME. BUT IN THIS LETTER, A WEST D-A SAYS THE JAIL SHOULD HAVE HAD ENOUGH PEOPLE TO ACCOMMODATE THE INSPECTION AND THEY HAVE A PERSISTENT PATTERN OF NONCOMPLIANCE AND ENDANGERING THE HEALTH OF DETAINEES AND THE STAFF. THEY ALSO SAY THE SURPRISE VISITS WILL CONTINUE, AND THEY ALSO DECLINED THEIR INVITATION FOR A PLANNED INSPECTION. NOW IT’S JUST A WAITING GAME TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT. REPORTING LIVE IN OKLAHO
Oklahoma County DA invites state health officials to jail on specified dates after failing surprise inspection
On June 25, the health department found the Oklahoma County jail deficient because the jail refused to let inspectors inside the facility for a surprise visit
Updated: 5:10 PM CDT Jul 8, 2024
The latest battle at the Oklahoma County Detention Center pitted state leaders against county officials after the jail failed another inspection. >> Download the KOCO 5 AppThe Oklahoma State Department of Health makes unannounced visits to every jail in the state annually. On June 25, the health department found the Oklahoma County jail deficient because the jail refused to let inspectors inside the facility for a surprise visit. When they couldn’t get inside the Oklahoma County jail, they put it down as a failed inspection. Oklahoma County District Attorney Vicki Behenna said that reasoning is void and invited the Oklahoma State Department of Health back to the jail. But the health department said it doesn’t work that way. “I think our current judgment not to allow these surprise investigations is the right course,” Joe Albaugh, the chairman of the Criminal Justice Authority, said. KOCO 5 uncovered a letter from the District Attorney’s Office inviting the health department back on specified dates. “Surprise inspections do not benefit anyone. Absolutely anyone, and it puts our entire staff in a position where they have to pick which master they’re going to listen to,” Albaugh said. Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.The jail trust, which oversees the operations at the Oklahoma County Detention Center, said they weren’t staffed up at the time of the inspection, saying they need a heads up for next time. In a letter, the health department said the jail should have had enough people to accommodate the inspection, and they have a persistent pattern of noncompliance, endangering the health of detainees and staff. They said the surprise visits will continue, and they declined the invitation for a planned inspection. Top Headlines ‘A big teddy bear’: Oklahoma City teen drowns at Grand Lake, remembered by friends and coach Catch more of the wildest crimes on a new season of Very Local’s ‘Crimes, Cons and Capers’ Hurricane Beryl makes landfall in Texas, knocking out power to more than 750,000 Ammo vending machines installed in Oklahoma grocery stores Norman businesses rallying to have city close homeless shelter
The latest battle at the Oklahoma County Detention Center pitted state leaders against county officials after the jail failed another inspection.
The Oklahoma State Department of Health makes unannounced visits to every jail in the state annually. On June 25, the health department found the Oklahoma County jail deficient because the jail refused to let inspectors inside the facility for a surprise visit.
When they couldn’t get inside the Oklahoma County jail, they put it down as a failed inspection.
Oklahoma County District Attorney Vicki Behenna said that reasoning is void and invited the Oklahoma State Department of Health back to the jail. But the health department said it doesn’t work that way.
“I think our current judgment not to allow these surprise investigations is the right course,” Joe Albaugh, the chairman of the Criminal Justice Authority, said.
KOCO 5 uncovered a letter from the District Attorney’s Office inviting the health department back on specified dates.
“Surprise inspections do not benefit anyone. Absolutely anyone, and it puts our entire staff in a position where they have to pick which master they’re going to listen to,” Albaugh said.
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
The jail trust, which oversees the operations at the Oklahoma County Detention Center, said they weren’t staffed up at the time of the inspection, saying they need a heads up for next time.
In a letter, the health department said the jail should have had enough people to accommodate the inspection, and they have a persistent pattern of noncompliance, endangering the health of detainees and staff.
They said the surprise visits will continue, and they declined the invitation for a planned inspection.
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