Oklahoma County Officials Move to Dissolve Jail Trust Created for Oversight
On March 18, 2026, officials in Oklahoma County approved a motion to dissolve the jail trust that was placed in charge of administering the county jail in downtown Oklahoma City.
Officially titled the Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Authority, the trust was created in 2019 to address longstanding issues at the jail that weren’t being corrected under the control of the county sheriff. But over the last six years, the trust has failed to significantly improve conditions at the 34-year-old lockup, which is still known for failing health inspections, understaffing, and a high number of detainee deaths. [See: PLN, Jan. 2026, p.29.]
In 2024, a surprise inspection by the Oklahoma State Department of Health at the jail found a rodent infestation and other unsanitary conditions. Last year, the jail had only 360 staff members, with less than half of them guards, well below the 500 workers needed to properly run the facility. Since 2020, when Oklahoma County placed the jail trust in charge, at least 60 detainees have died while in custody.
The 13-story county jail was facing a nearly $5 million budget gap before officials approved emergency funding on March 31.
Source: The Oklahoman
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