Chamber announces support for bond election for new OK County jail

The Greater Oklahoma City Chamber announced support for the bond election to build a new jail in Oklahoma County.   

The resolution calls for a $260 million bond issue to fund the construction. These bonds would take the place of retiring bonds and could be sold without increasing the rate of property taxes for residents.

“The challenges of the Oklahoma County Jail are well documented,” said Chamber President and CEO Roy Williams. “We simply must address this problem, and the challenges of the facility are so great that a renovation is simply not cost effective or efficient. It is time we build a new jail that can be operated in a way that reflects our community’s values.”  

The Chamber launched an initiative in 2016 to bring the leaders of the county’s criminal justice system together to begin an evaluation of the system and to better understand who was in our jail and why. At the time, the jail’s daily population was upwards of 2,600.

“More than 80% of the people in our jail at that time had not been convicted of a crime, and many were being held for lack of bail or fines and fees,” Williams continued. “Through thoughtful dialogue, we have found ways to divert many of these individuals to treatment while they are awaiting trial, while improving public safety. Now we understand the type of jail our community needs.”  

The Chamber cited the importance of a more efficient jail.

“We want every person who lives here to be an active, contributing member of the community,” Williams continued. “We need a facility that functions efficiently so people are not unnecessarily detained, and that those who are a danger have a place to be held pre-trial. This new facility will ensure our public safety, provide for job training and mental health treatment, and more. This is the right facility at the right time.”

The resolution calls for a vote on a June 28 election.