Background Checks Underway At Oklahoma County Detention Center After Grand Jury Report

The Interim CEO of the Oklahoma County Detention Center is addressing concerns raised in a grand jury report. 

The report is scathing, it even recommended the Jail Trust "self-terminate."

Instead, they're making updates to some of their procedures.

The Interim Jail Trust CEO Brandi Garner told the jail trust troubling details in a grand jury report. It said at some point gang members were working in the jail. She said they're addressing this right now.

A multi-county jury wrapped up a 14-month investigation with a 15-page report nearly two weeks ago.

The report outlines living conditions, jail deaths and staffing issues, all issues Garner said exist. One thing she did find disturbing in the report is that there were gang members working in the jail. She said they're now doing complete and thorough background checks of all employees and vendors.

“We have already taken action on the information we've received this far to investigate, interview and in some cases, we have terminated or allowed the termination of some staff members. This is all developing in the last week or two,” Garner said.

She said the jail has around 290 employees, a major shortage. She said the background checks don't help those issues, but they are needed.

The report said limited background checks could be contributing to drugs being found in the facility.

“I want this to be a warning to any individual who intends to bring drugs into our jail. You better think twice. It isn't work spending the rest of your life in prison,” Garner said.

Garner said they're going to continue doing random searches on anyone who enters their jail.

She said she would like to have that department staffed 24/7, but there's both staffing and funding issues are in the way.

“We are the largest county in the state and arguably have the most dangerous people in our state in our care in the worst physical plant of any facility I have ever seen. It is extremely difficult to recruit the very best with what we are paying currently,” Garner said.

To get rid of the Jail Trust, the termination must be approved by a majority vote by the Oklahoma County Jail Trust, the Oklahoma County Commissioner and then must be approved by the governor.