Tulsa World: Lawmakers: Prison too valuable to close

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Lawmakers: Prison too valuable to close

By Associated Press
Published: 10/15/2009 6:36 AM
Last Modified: 10/15/2009 6:36 AM

GRANITE, Okla. — State lawmakers say they have no plans to close the Oklahoma State Reformatory.

Rep. Randy Terrill of Moore and Sen. Anthony Sykes of Newcastle toured the state facility in Granite on Wednesday. They say lawmakers will consider a private maximum-security prison, but that it will be an addition to current state prisons.

The Granite prison was among three recommended for demolition in a report by a consultant group hired by the Legislature to examine the state's prisons.

The consultants recommended spending about $220 million to renovate Oklahoma's 17 prisons and $292 million more to add an extra 2,600 beds.

Sykes says closing Granite would work against lawmakers' goals because it would decrease the department's inmate capacity at a tim e when extra space for inmates is crucial.

By Associated Press

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	Report Comment Few Clothes, America (10/15/2009 5:46:15 PM) In high school I joined a group to play baseball against the prisoners of this Prison. I wisely did not try to break up a double play or bowl over the catcher at home plate. Of course, I only weighed 135 pounds then and they would have broken every bone in my body.
	Report Comment Few Clothes, America (10/15/2009 5:47:55 PM) P.S. This was in the early 1960's and it was reffered to as a reformatory then.
	Report Comment Woofenburger, Hominy (10/15/2009 4:04:05 PM) All this talk about prisons by the legislature is just some of them trying to give business to the private prison industry. Its been going on for years.
	Report Comment Oilsooner, Tulsa (10/15/2009 8:30:30 AM) More prisons!!! Not less!!!! What is wrong with these people???
	Report Comment Oilsooner, Tulsa (10/15/2009 9:02:57 AM) Yes, LnorR, if we are non progressive and closed minded because we choose to lock up those that violate our laws (non violent or not), then I am okay with that label.
	Report Comment spirit07, Tulsa (10/15/2009 7:12:48 AM) Build more because the criminals are getting out at record pace. Read the TW
	Report Comment olddude, tulsa (10/15/2009 7:19:14 AM) We need more prisons,if people are breaking the law they should be locked up,there are too many peolpe getting out or they are getting deferred sentences just to repeat more crimes,we see it everyday here in oklahoma.just one more thing they do not need to be like the holiday inn express.
	Report Comment The Sarge, Okmulgee (10/15/2009 9:09:52 AM) So getreal you think we should let out all the child molesters and murders? Stop sending them to prison? If they want to free up beds let out the ones who write bad checks and stop sending them to prison when I worked for the Department of Corrections there were some doing life for bad checks talk about a waste of bed space. In case you forgot getreal the Republicans control both houses in OKC so it is conservative spending with no money the typical conservative way.
	Report Comment oldnorthroad, (10/15/2009 8:37:19 AM) Stop locking up non-violent offenders to line the pockets of the prison industry. Don't you people have common sense? They want nearly 300 million for 2,600 beds. All those beds will be full in a year and the same problems will exist. More money will then be requested. More beds and money will not solve the prison population issues in this state. Use your heads, folks.
	Report Comment Ex-Marine Viper, Sand Springs (10/15/2009 9:09:08 AM) A simple fix would be to change the laws in this brain-dead-rednect state. Petty crimes sould not involve arrest but should be summary offense's that result in fines without a court trial. This would generate the $$$ to support the prison system for the felony criminals that deserve to be in jail. Before you start to think I am too liberal on this subject, here is one more idea. Any person, regardless of age, convicted of murder, rape, or child abuse by rape or serious phyiscal abuse should be put to death. This saves $$$ in having to feed, care for (medical), house, and guard this criminals for extended lengths of time...IMO
	Report Comment Ex-Marine Viper, Sand Springs (10/15/2009 9:21:16 AM) OldDude,,,and just how would you propose we pay for more prisons.... Would you agree to pay 15-20 percent state taxes to fund prisons to lock up people for bad-checks, stealing a loaf of bread, ect..ect... Maybe you should move to England or Europe..where the tax rate is 30-40 percent to fund all the socialist's type of government.
	Report Comment getreal, (10/15/2009 7:08:45 AM) Typical liberal spending. Just keep expanding a state agency. If they add more beds, that is more to the annual budget. When does all of this spending stop. Prisons are sucking our state dry and these Okie city folks just keep tossong money at the problem.
	Report Comment LnorR, tulsa (10/15/2009 8:52:44 AM) oldnorthroad,this is oklahoma.A non progressive,closed minded state in our union.

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