Oklahoma
Staffing shortages, violence plague Oklahoma prisons
HOLDENVILLE, Okla. — Working as a jail guard in Oklahoma is turning into an ever extra harmful job because the state, with one of many highest incarceration charges in america, struggles with violence and understaffing at detention services. Lengthy hours, harmful circumstances and distant, rural places have meant fewer guards and a system plagued with elevated killings and violence.
Three inmates had been killed in separate incidents this yr on the identical non-public jail in rural, east-central Oklahoma the place a correctional officer was fatally stabbed by an inmate over the summer time, in line with paperwork obtained by The Related Press.
Davis Correctional Facility, a 1,700-bed males’s jail in Holdenville operated by Tennessee-based non-public jail operator CoreCivic, has been working at solely about 70% of its contractually obligated staffing degree, in line with a 2021 audit of the power offered to the AP after an open-records request.
Alan Jay Hershberger, a 61-year-old veteran correctional officer from Missouri who beforehand labored at a CoreCivic facility in Kansas, was touring to Oklahoma to work on the jail for six-week stints at a time, in line with his household. On July 31, Hershberger was supervising about 30 inmates in a recreation yard on the jail when 49-year-old inmate Gregory Thompson walked previous him, pulled a 16-inch, do-it-yourself knife from his waistband and plunged it into Hershberger’s again, in line with an affidavit from Oklahoma Division of Corrections investigator J. Dale Hunter.
“The sufferer instantly grabbed his aspect and shortly walked out of the A Unit South door towards a second correctional officer … and collapsed,” Hunter wrote. “The defendant adopted behind the sufferer and started shouting, “On the set” and “On the Crips,” jail slang indicating the motion is the duty of the Crips jail gang of which the defendant is a validated member.”
Thompson, who’s serving a no-parole life sentence for a 2003 homicide conviction, has gang affiliation and a historical past of jail violence, together with a 2010 first-degree manslaughter conviction in a case during which Thompson stabbed one other inmate to demise in 2009 on the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester. Regardless of his historical past, Thompson was held among the many normal inhabitants at Davis Correctional Facility, in line with the DOC.
“He shouldn’t have been typically (inhabitants), realizing how violent he was and his historical past,” mentioned Jessica Scott, a correctional officer who labored with Hershberger throughout a six-week stint at Davis. “Administrative segregation is the place he ought to have been.”
Scott, who has labored at two different CoreCivic prisons in Kansas and Tennessee, mentioned the power at Holdenville had extra issues sustaining applicable staffing ranges, cell doorways that didn’t lock correctly and inmates who had been significantly violent and noncompliant towards workers.
“It was by far the worst,” mentioned Scott, who now works at a state jail in Kansas. “There’s a motive I’m not there anymore.”
Thompson has been charged with first-degree homicide in Hughes County. His public defenders declined to touch upon the case.
CoreCivic didn’t reply on to questions on Thompson’s offender-level standing or its staffing ratio on the time of the killing, however acknowledged the corporate is taking steps to enhance staffing ranges.
“CoreCivic is dedicated to the well being and security of our workers, the people in our care and our communities,” CoreCivic spokesman Matthew Davio mentioned in an announcement. “We’re additionally dedicated to attracting and retaining certified, skilled workers at Davis. Nevertheless, each private and non-private correctional services have confronted staffing challenges throughout the nation.”
Davio mentioned the corporate used extra funding this yr from the Oklahoma Legislature to extend pay for officers on the facility and likewise has marketed for openings and launched recruiting efforts at navy bases and native schools. A billboard alongside a freeway close to the jail, positioned 75 miles (120 kilometers) southeast of Oklahoma Metropolis, advertises beginning pay at $22.10 per hour.
Nonetheless, one other inmate was killed on the jail earlier this month, the third this yr, in line with the DOC. Correctional officers watched as 32-year-old Darren Padron strangled his cellmate, 27-year-old Dustin Patterson as he pleaded for his life, in line with an affidavit from a DOC investigator.
“Correctional officers reported they witnessed Darren R. Padron assault Patterson with numerous strangulation strategies together with a lateral neck restraint, pushing his elbow into Patterson’s throat as he lay inclined, and using Patterson’s shirt as a ligature,” the affidavit states.
The officers informed DOC investigators that Padron refused to adjust to verbal directives and continued to strangle Patterson even after a number of deployments of pepper spray.
Padron additionally has been charged with first-degree homicide. Court docket information don’t point out the identify of an lawyer who might communicate on his behalf.
Jail information present each Thompson and Padron have been moved to the maximum-security Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester.
CoreCivic, previously the Corrections Company of America, has an extended historical past of issues with inmate violence at its prisons. In one of many deadliest jail assaults in Oklahoma historical past, 4 inmates had been stabbed to demise in 2015 at a jail operated by CCA. These assaults adopted a violent outburst just a few months earlier during which some 200 to 300 of the jail’s roughly 1,600 inmates had been concerned in a brawl that resulted in 11 prisoners being taken to the hospital.
Simply final month, the non-public jail firm agreed to settle a federal lawsuit over a Tennessee inmate’s killing during which low staffing ranges had been blamed.
Whereas a few of it’s merely the character of the work, prisons at the moment are additionally competing towards oil area jobs that pay higher. The Legislature authorized a pay elevate for jail guards this yr to assist fight hiring challenges, boosting recruits in a hopeful signal of enchancment.
Personal services will not be alone of their wrestle to lower violence and rent and retain workers. Oklahoma has lengthy had one of many highest common annual murder charges amongst all of the state jail programs within the nation from 2001 to 2019, with 14 homicides per 100,000 inmates throughout that point. South Carolina topped it solely barely with 15 homicides per 100,000 inmates, in line with a 2021 report from the Bureau of Justice Statistics.
Bobby Cleveland, a former state lawmaker and director of an affiliation that represents jail staff in Oklahoma, mentioned understaffing at each non-public and public prisons has certainly led to extra violence.
He recommended steadily decreasing non-public prisons.
“They’re consistently happening lockdown due to workers shortages. You’ve bought extra medicine coming in, you get extra telephones coming in. And what occurs is you get inmates combating over the contraband and who controls it,” he mentioned, including “Once you’re quick staffed, you’re going to have extra issues.”
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Comply with Sean Murphy at www.twitter.com/apseanmurphy
Oklahoma
Navy Midshipmen Keys to Beating Oklahoma Sooners in Armed Forces Bowl
The Armed Forces Bowl is the Navy Midshipmen’s kind of bowl game. As they prepare to take on the Oklahoma Sooners, they are familiar with the surroundings at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas.
Kickoff on Friday is at noon eastern on ESPN.
This is Navy’s (9-3) third appearance in the Armed Forces Bowl, as they beat Middle Tennessee in 2013 and then played a highly-dramatic affair with Louisiana Tech in 2016, which Navy lost 48-45.
At stake for the Midshipmen is their first 10-win season under second-year coach Brian Newberry and their sixth 10-win season in program history. Also with the win the Midshipmen can double their win total from a season ago in Newberry’s debut.
All in all, it would be the capper for a successful second year under their former defensive coordinator.
Oklahoma (6-6) is coming off a sluggish debut in the SEC, where at times the Sooners struggled to score points but scored a huge elite season win over Alabama, a victory that likely kept the Crimson Tide out of the College Football Playoff.
Third-year coach Brent Venables is also dealing with losing players to the transfer portal and two potential defensive stars who may not play in the game as they prepare for the NFL.
How does Navy win? Here are three keys to watch.
Wanna see a simple cause-and-effect relationship?
In Navy’s nine wins, the Midshipmen have outscored teams 104-7 in points off turnovers. The only team to score any points off a Navy turnover in those nine games? Incredibly, it was Bucknell in the season opener.
In the Midshipmen’s three losses, Navy has been outscored 48-0 in points off turnovers.
Navy needs to avoid turnovers, avoid giving up points when it turns the ball over. It also needs to force turnovers and score points off those turnovers.
Yes, that’s rather simple. But the Midshipmen are polar opposite teams in this category, which means that first turnover of the game, whoever commits it, could be telling.
It’s not as if Navy is going to become a different team than it was against Army West Point, and certainly quarterback Blake Hovarth’s ability to throw the ball as a differentiator. But, the Midshipmen just need to be who they are.
Navy is averaging 249.3 rushing yards per game, the seventh-best average in FBS and the program’s best since 2019.
Navy hasn’t played Oklahoma in decades comma but Army played the Sooners recently in Norman. Back in 2018, OU needed overtime to beat Army, 28-21. Oklahoma doesn’t see option teams at all during the season. That’s an edge for Navy.
Oklahoma has had some turnover at quarterback since the end of the regular season. Starter Jackson Arnold transferred to Auburn and another quarterback is in the portal.
The Sooners expect to start Michael Hawkins Jr. behind center, who actually began the season as the starting quarterback. So Navy’s defensive staff will need to break down some tape from earlier in the season.
He has 536 passing yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. He’s a solid runner. But he was benched for fumbling the ball multiple times against South Carolina. Ball protection is key against Navy, which does a good job of creating turnovers. Pressure on Hawkins will be a difference-maker in the game.
Oklahoma
Wizards at Thunder Recap: Injury-riddled Washington falls short in Oklahoma City, 123-105
On Christmas’ Eve’s eve, The Wizards lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder, 123-105. Washington faced an uphill battle against the league’s second-best team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, regardless of the injury report. But the challenge became more difficult when Bilal Couilably (groin) and Alex Sarr (back) were ruled out. Yet, Washington hung with the Thunder and entered the fourth quarter down just four points. OKC went on a 13-2 run to start the final frame and finally put the Wizards away.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a monster game with 41 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and 3 blocks. He went off for 14 points in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach. SGA shot 3-of-6 from deep, but the rest of the Thunder struggled (7-32, 21.8%). Conversely, the Wizards shot well from deep. They made 16 of their 43 three-point attempts (37.2%) and late, desperation misses brought down that percentage. 19 turnovers and allowing 66 points in the paint did DC in.
Jordan Poole led the team in scoring, again. He poured in 31 points on 20 field goal attempts and 7 assists as opposed to 4 turnovers. Jonas Valanciunas posted another double-double, 12 points and 15 rebounds, in his quest to be traded. Kyshawn George had one of his best games as a Wizards. He scored 11 points, his first double-digit scoring output in December. George also impressed with his defensive activity and quick hands. If he plays that level of defense, his scoring will improve because he’ll be able to play more.
The Wizards take on Charlotte in Capital One Arena one day after Christmas. Kyle Kuzma was still out with a rib injury and we’ll see if he, Coulibaly, or Sarr get back on the court this week. Other injuries to monitor are Bub Carrington and Marvin Bagley. Carrington grabbed his abdomen and went back to the locker room with about 8 minutes left. Marvin Bagley went down with a nasty-looking injury when Isaiah Hartenstein rolled up on his ankle from behind. He had to be helped off.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma dealing with shortage of game wardens
Okla. (KXII) – Midway through several big hunting seasons, Oklahoma is struggling with a shortage of game wardens.
Oklahoma Senator David Bullard (R-Durant) said that game wardens have an important job to do.
“Those game wardens are there to protect us and protect the wildlife that are on our property from being poached,” he said. “The number one deer stand in Oklahoma for a lot of years was the right or left seat of a pickup truck.”
While there’s still some of that going on, he said it’s not anywhere near how it used to be.
“That’s due in large part to the wildlife department doing their job, being out and about,” Bullard said.
Now, that security could be in jeopardy.
Oklahoma currently has 12 open positions for game wardens – the most vacancies in a long time.
“When that law enforcement presence is not there, people are going to take advantage of it,” he said.
Bullard said one of the reasons the state is having a hard time filling those positions is because they’re simply not paying enough.
“If you’re paying competitive wages, and we’re not right now in the wildlife department, then you’re going to have a hard time recruiting,” he said.
Part of the problem is that the wildlife department is funded solely through ticketing, licenses and fees.
“They haven’t had an increase in licensing or fees in 23 years,” Bullard said.
Bullard said the ship has sailed on any more fee increases for the time being, but they could revisit the compacts they have with local tribes.
“The tribe has been great partners with us, especially on licensing and fees,” he said. “Bring that back up to help – that would be enough money there to give a substantial raise to all of our wildlife agencies and and to our game wardens.”
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