OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma prisons urgently want security digicam upgrades “in the worst way,” the top of a company that represents correctional workers mentioned.
Bobby Cleveland, govt director of Oklahoma Corrections Professionals, mentioned the state’s prisons don’t have sufficient cameras, and those who do have cameras which can be “old and antiquated.”
“That makes it dangerous for everybody,” he mentioned. “There’s too many dark spots, and the inmates get that right away.”
Cleveland mentioned the digicam state of affairs is a frequent grievance he receives from wardens and correctional workers, 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 mentioned.
Josh Ward, a spokesman for the Department of Corrections, mentioned the company hs not too long ago requested funding by the legislative finances course of to make upgrades to security digicam infrastructure.
DOC officers don’t but understand how a lot the upgrades will value, however count on it to be a “multimillion-dollar” expense provided that the jail system operates 22 amenities and a number of probation and parole places of work, which all would profit from the enhancements.
“It’ll be a sizable investment, but it’s necessary,” Ward mentioned. “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 mentioned security issues restrict how a lot information he can present, however DOC officers are requesting funds for a systemwide improve. The final widespread digicam 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 mentioned. “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 mentioned the DVRs are the place footage will likely be saved, and storing jail footage takes lots of computing energy and may be fairly costly.
An exterior firm will likely be employed to guage to security wants and suggest the place to put the cameras ought to the upgrades be funded, he mentioned.
State Sen. Blake Stephens, R-Tahlequah, who serves on a public security committee, mentioned he simply turned conscious of the digicam problem earlier this week, and hasn’t had an opportunity to look into it.
He mentioned he hopes to go to some state prisons over the subsequent few months to be taught extra about security digicam wants.
“We’re constantly trying to upgrade and improve public safety,” he mentioned.
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