By John Dobberstein, Editor
Oklahoma City — State Rep. Justin Humphrey (R-Lane) called for an independent investigation of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections Friday to address “an increase in violent assaults against inmates and staff” and a variety of other allegations.
Humphrey, who chairs the House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee, says stabbings, assaults and rapes seem to be a “near daily occurrence” in the corrections system. The lawmaker said he received one report of an inmate being tied up for about 12 hours and raped repeatedly. He also heard of an alleged incident where inmates entering an employee’s office and repeatedly stabbing an inmate in front of the employee.
“The reports of inmates or employees being attacked, beaten or stabbed have been overwhelming,” said Lane, adding that the most recent attack was a video of an inmate attack at the Dick Conner Correctional Center shown on an Oklahoma City television station.
“It is my understanding that inmates videoed this attack and sent the video to the station director and the assaulted inmate’s family members,” Lane said in a news release. “I’m left asking how this can happen. When inmates become so bold that they will video their assault and mail that video to the family and director of a news station, then Oklahoma has lost control of its prison system.
“If this report is true, it clearly demonstrates the administration’s catastrophic failure. The Department of Corrections cannot be trusted to investigate themselves. It is time Oklahomans demand a proper investigation into the numerous reports and allegations involving our Department of Corrections.”
Humphrey said that in his 3 years as chair of the HCJCC he’s exposed a “massive staff shortage” as well as money that was obscured in the department’s budget. He’s said he’s also investigated whistleblower claims of the department covering up rapes and other crimes.
Humphrey said his reporting of the staff shortage revealed the department had been overpaid by at least $43 million, which was initially concealed in the budget. Because of the revelation, he said he and others were able to ensure the $43 million went to pay for staff raises – all without the need to increase taxes or state appropriations.
“This does not appear to be the total amount of funding being obscured, however,” Humphrey alleged Friday. “Oklahoma has closed prisons and has reduced the inmate population by approximately 6,000. Common sense would suggest significant savings. At the same time, the staff shortage has been reoccurring for years. Based on my calculations, the Department of Corrections should have undisclosed millions.”
Humphrey said he also reported a whistleblower’s claim that the department was covering up rapes. Despite two court opinions that agreed the whistleblower was wrongfully terminated, he said, and his own investigation before House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee, Lane said the ODOC and the state’s attorney general have yet to take actions to reinstate the whistleblower or to investigate the rapes.
Humphrey also said he learned that inmates were being held in two-by-two-foot cells for days while reportedly being denied food, water and bathroom facilities. He said he received documentation that inmates were treated this inhumane way as a form of punishment.
Lane said that despite very clear documentation, the ODOC claims it was done to move inmates from cells and that inmates were not held in the small spaces for more than 3 days.
“If proven the department treated inmates in this manner and that the department intentionally ignored rapes, then unquestionably this would constitute civil rights and human rights violations,” he said.
Humphrey said he also plans to ask any investigators to also examine whether executive employees were wrongfully fired and replaced with “inexperienced associates” of (ODOC Executive Director Steven Harpe). He also called for an examination of the director’s training, experience and education to ensure it is commensurate with corrections work and that it warrants a $90,000 raise Lane alleges Harpe recently received.
“It is my understanding this would bring the director’s pay to approximately $275,000 per year. I understand $275,000 is nearly equivalent to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice director who I believe has a nearly $4 billion larger budget, has tens of thousands more inmates and has decades of correctional experience, training and education,” Humphrey said.
Humphrey concluded his list of accusations by stating he received recent reports that the DOC found an extra $8 million in its budget, which it used to provide Christmas bonuses for employees.
“However, without notice, the department changed their evaluation process and many employees who had received good evaluations for years were told they did not meet standards and were denied the bonus,” Humphrey alleged. “This seems extremely scandalous when you consider the qualifications of the director and the fact that he received a $90,000 raise this year.”
In a separate statement Friday, DOC officials said they were aware of Humphrey’s letter and issued a response to correct “a few of the inaccuracies” the lawmaker shared.
ODOC said it had no report or knowledge of any inmate being tied up and raped for hours.
“If true, this egregious act must be investigated thoroughly, and those involved must be held responsible. We welcome Rep. Humphrey to send us the information about the referenced incident,” DOC said. “ODOC staff work diligently to ensure the safety of inmates and fellow staff members. We respond swiftly to incidents and provide any necessary medical treatment as quickly as possible.
“Unfortunately,” the DOC added, “violent acts do occur within prisons. However, looking at one or two incidents is not indicative of the overall embodiment of how ODOC is operating and protecting staff and those incarcerated.”
DOC said over the last 6 months there hasn’t been a “statistically significant” increase in inmate-on-inmate assaults and there had been a reduction in inmate-on-staff assaults. The department noted contraband cellphones are a threat to public safety and that employees “work diligently daily to combat the introduction of cellular devices into our facilities using state-of-the-art technology and traditional methods. Over the last year, we have confiscated or bricked over 5,000 cellphones.”
The DOC said hiding money was “not within ODOC’s ethos” and that every year a transparent budget request, including a plan and spending history, is presented to the legislature.
“It would be detrimental to try to conceal money – a risk no ODOC employee, current or previous, is willing to take. Through streamlining processes and identifying efficiencies, the agency was able to afford a one-time performance-based stipend.”
DOC further explained the performance stipends were distributed per state law that has been in force since 2002., and the method of performance review that is modeled after private industry, has been a state standard since 2019.
ODOC said it began using calibration in early 2022 before Harpe started with the agency, and he did not receive a raise when he became the director of ODOC. “He has received the same pay since July 2021, when Governor Stitt named him the state chief operating officer.”
ODC said that within the last few months, Harpe has pushed for employees to be compensated fairly.
“Captains now receive overtime pay, which will encourage more qualified security staff to apply for promotions, and all levels of food service workers received a much-needed pay raise,” the department said. “ The salaries of other job positions are currently being reviewed. Director Harpe also implemented a technology refresh for the entire agency, eliminating antiquated computers that hindered employees from efficiently performing their duties.”
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