'Not acceptable': New details on Oklahoma County Detention Center plans revealed

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (KOKH) — Oklahoma City Planning Commission documents are revealing new information on how officials are envisioning the new Oklahoma County Detention Center.

Del City residents and officials continue to voice concerns about its possible placement in their backyard.

The issue has been top of mind for county officials since Jun. 2022 when voters approved a $260 million bond package to fund the new jail.

The current facility in downtown Oklahoma City has had its fair share of challenges in the past.

The Oklahoma County Board of Commissioners voted in February to put the jail at 1901 E Grand Blvd in Oklahoma City. Del City Hall is just minutes away from the site.

Del City Mayor Floyd Eason previously said the move left him feeling gut-punched.

On Monday, he shared that, "I do feel like it's a dollar fighting a dime. We're the dime. But that doesn't mean we're not going to fight."

In his view, "Habitually, Del City has kind of rolled over and accepted what came down the hill. Guess what? We're not doing that. This is not acceptable to place a jail near our children, our seniors, and... our citizens."

Records show that officials are considering offering inmates rides to services once they're released.

The friends and family members of inmates are also able to retrieve them.

However, such offerings are optional—so the mayor said his concerns remain.

According to planning commission documents, officials are also considering a set window from 7 a.m. to 12 a.m. for inmate releases.

If an inmate misses that window, he or she would have to wait until 7 a.m. the next day, according to city records.

"It's the hardcore, the ones that are mad from being in jail that we... don't want out walking through our neighborhoods," asserted Mayor Eason.

Documents show the jail will be a one-story, 710,000-square-foot building with 2,460 beds and 234 workers per shift.

In the mayor's view, the county commissioners are rushing through the process to keep $50 million in federal pandemic relief funds before they expire—including $40 million for a behavioral health center.

The planning commission is taking up this issue on Thursday.

According to the mayor, the commission can make recommendations which it then sends to the city council for the final say.

Mayor Eason said he is open to legal action if the current plans move forward.