Not everyone charged with a crime in Oklahoma County goes directly to jail. Some are charged during a court hearing and can obtain a bond without being detained. Those defendants still must be entered into Oklahoma’s criminal justice system by providing authorities with fingerprints, mugshots, and, in felony cases, DNA samples. Previously, these defendants were able to complete “fast-track” booking processes within an hour at the jail, without actually being brought into the facility. However, Oklahoma County’s jail has been struggling with low staffing levels and hasn’t been able to reliably provide that service. It also has difficulties in scheduling interviews between detainees and their attorneys and in releasing detainees after they have posted bond.
As of November, only 258 people were employed to run the jail, including about 20 who completed training days ago. Staffing issues have been longstanding for the jail, which has been cited for health and safety violations by authorities over the past several years and has seen over 40 detainee deaths since 2020.
The loss of fast-track bookings has a significant impact. Now, everyone must use the same entry point at the jail. The jail holds detainees in cells within its intake area. Sheriff Tommie Johnson III will now begin providing walk-through services to obtain fingerprints, mugshots, and other information from criminal defendants. He managed to acquire a $25,000 grant to obtain the necessary equipment. The sheriff is working to set up an office at the Oklahoma County Courthouse to provide no-cost walk-through booking services.
The issue has caught the attention of Oklahoma County District Court judges, with one asking the sheriff for help. Meanwhile, the public defender expressed concerns about delays in release times for detainees and difficulties for attorneys to meet with their clients at the jail. Despite the current staffing levels, the jail’s CEO remains optimistic about the progress and continues to emphasize the importance of retention.
