Oklahoma prisons urgently want security digital camera upgrades “in the worst way,” the pinnacle of a company that represents correctional staff stated.
Bobby Cleveland, government director of Oklahoma Corrections Professionals, stated the state’s prisons don’t have sufficient cameras, and those who do have cameras which are “old and antiquated.”
“That makes it dangerous for everybody,” he stated. “There’s too many dark spots, and the inmates get that right away.”
Cleveland stated the digital camera state of affairs is a frequent grievance he receives from wardens and correctional staff, who’re involved not solely about correctional worker security, but additionally that of inmates and different individuals working or volunteering inside prisons.
“They need better cameras, and they need more cameras to make it a safer environment,” Cleveland stated.
Josh Ward, a spokesman for the Department of Corrections, stated the company has lately requested funding by way of the legislative price range course of to make upgrades to security digital camera infrastructure.
DOC officers don’t but know the way a lot the upgrades will price, however anticipate it to be a “multimillion-dollar” expense provided that the jail system operates 22 services and a number of probation and parole officers, which might all profit from the enhancements.
“It’ll be a sizable investment, but it’s necessary,” Ward stated. “And it’s part of our ongoing security plan to make sure that we uphold our mission, which is to protect public safety, protect the employees and the offenders.”
He stated security considerations restrict how a lot information he can present, however DOC officers are requesting funds for a systemwide improve. The final widespread digital camera improve was in 2008, and since then enhancements have been made on a rolling foundation as wanted.
“It will be a pretty expansive technology upgrade,” Ward stated. “That technology has advanced, and so we’ll be upgrading things like the number of cameras, the quality of cameras and the DVRs as well.”
He stated the DVRs are the place footage will likely be saved, and storing jail footage takes a variety of computing energy and will be fairly costly.
An outdoors firm will likely be employed to judge to security wants and advocate the place to position the cameras ought to the upgrades be funded, he stated.
State Sen. Blake “Cowboy” Stephens, R-Tahlequah, who serves on a public security committee, stated he simply turned conscious of the digital camera situation earlier this week, and hasn’t had an opportunity to look into it.
He stated he hopes to go to some state prisons over the subsequent few months to study extra about security digital camera wants.
“We’re constantly trying to upgrade and improve public safety,” he stated.
Janelle Stecklein covers the Oklahoma Statehouse for CNHI’s newspapers and web sites. Reach her at [email protected].
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