[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",5975313,"mediaKeyId","5844277-3652ba420eef5bbe35fc427fadb29181","parentId",5844277,"title","Citizens Advisory Board accepts report from focus groups at Oklahoma County Detention Center","audioSeconds",2186,"startMs",592000,"endMs",2778000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5844277-3652ba420eef5bbe35fc427fadb29181&start=592&end=2778","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5844277-3652ba420eef5bbe35fc427fadb29181/thumbnail_592000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5975313/Oklahoma-County/Oklahoma/Citizens-Advisory-Board-accepts-report-from-focus-groups-at-Oklahoma-County-Detention-Center","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5975313-a7b74acb93fc9666bb88ddeda6d9afe5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771111479&Signature=nZUFM5euZobS6I8PJalI~t9nPaOmbvMP9KXTUG9GJAORbxVv0NukOA3Xf9bc1JFdiM6seYU9~30vv6GBZF5EaRCbwo7I0NPhJs0PobCcG67n8FVETmLjkSPAxa2Ug8Ai6AFopOFmHEZzwCcSC30lfvQelT6k2Wq22nnFbNGRkr18tUwmCkrCfuIPU2boxuvhmCvM2AQ0wRTsTEPFM~JE2q~NUm5aIOxv8q5x4GcxCDqwaLkG7Evc9LSrDIGSUbER758xCWkqlMZl2Lk-on~Z~dOYAOk-mqWnY0DMCxs~rHxb-5bQTj8AmMyp9Z1LBPcfSn7EnFfczccOP06YQr6EbQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Oklahoma County, OK","date","2025-09-24T03:35:55Z","article","The Citizens Advisory Board received a report on Sept. 12 focus groups held at the Oklahoma County Detention Center, which summarized feedback from men and women detained there and listed requests for more recreation time, changes to commissary offerings, and faster medical response. The board voted to receive the report during its September meeting.

The report, presented by a staff member, said trust member James Johnson and CAB members Deshaun Jones and Chris Steele conducted separate focus groups with men and women at the facility. The presentation said men reported that \"the quality of food has improved and is good, but the portions are small\" and that breakfast lacked variety; one example listed was two pieces of bread or cornbread and a slice of bologna. Men told focus group facilitators they are typically allowed out of cells two to three hours Monday through Thursday and asked for more out-of-cell time on Fridays. Women reported similar concerns about portion sizes and limited breakfast variety and said they routinely are allowed out from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

The presenters summarized additional shared concerns: commissary items are \"too expensive,\" generic-brand alternatives were described by residents as lower quality, and some residents said the removal of electronic tablets limited visitation and religious activities. The report also listed requests for access to dental floss, nutritional shakes in commissary, more changes of clothing when showers are unavailable, access to a law library, and a functional microwave in the women’s pod. The report noted the facility’s cleanliness and some improvements in pest issues; presenters said residents described interactions with most staff as professional and respectful, while noting variability by individual staff member.

CAB member Deshaun Jones said, \"It was a wonderful, wonderful visit,\" and added that residents were generally complimentary about staff while acknowledging that staffing shortages drive some restrictions on time out of cell and services. A staff member told the board the detention center had contracted with Benchmark for food and commissary services.

At the meeting the board accepted the report by motion; the chair requested follow-up work on two items in particular: a full commissary price and item breakdown from the detention center and additional reporting on medical services, including the facility’s $15 medical request charge and the number of requests made. The board agreed those items should be clearer before making formal recommendations.

Why it matters: the focus groups combine resident experience with CAB observations and will feed into subcommittee work and requests for additional information from the jail trust. Board members said improved programming gives hope to residents but that persistent issues around commissary pricing, medical response and recreation time remain priorities for follow-up.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","CJA Citizens Advisory Board Special Meeting 09/23/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Citizens Advisory Board received a report on Sept. 12 focus groups held at the Oklahoma County Detention Center, which summarized feedback from men and women detained there and listed requests for more recreation time, changes to commissary offerings, and faster medical response.","taxTitle","Oklahoma County, Oklahoma","taxId",2676,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5975302,"Board members flag commissary prices, Benchmark contract and county jail funding shortfall",1026,1303000,2329000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5844277-3652ba420eef5bbe35fc427fadb29181&start=1303&end=2329","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5844277-3652ba420eef5bbe35fc427fadb29181/thumbnail_1303000.jpg","/articles/5975302/Oklahoma-County/Oklahoma/Board-members-flag-commissary-prices-Benchmark-contract-and-county-jail-funding-shortfall","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5975302-25286f0ac2eed476530a1e4bd04cb0a0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771111479&Signature=h5RJ~9jNwbFD9KIwnixCbcolhdm~QYEHqMjB6HGYqHDMkZbQn9E2m-geBhN9YTwMUrS50bzM-bdl1AaiK6BiLRisEBgdEZEx2qutAUxbEdFBp6Xn9xE1jexOKSlULPrU0lnNRCNS7WOlyQPJ3AU0hA6AS45usr0Pgao0TDJgrhARMXycPyVrAWKLpemLsOOe~o5aJE63YHgVOtaA0r4hBlTbkTYwytmV-A0XJyUxg~kKWYz1fguz55pmReGNO-0RZZzmkIcA6KOUhdqPU~wkQaYGoxaV23rpoM77RlYgGuQ7ciG7ChFA0FSrk4jHEmr9zMLM6CeI1q73JSUwbstNXg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Members of the Oklahoma County Citizens Advisory Board questioned commissary pricing, asked for the vendor contract and asked the jail trust to press county leaders for increased funding to address staffing and maintenance shortfalls at the county jail.

A staff member told the board the detention center contracted with Benchmark for both food service and commissary. CAB member Jeff said residents provided examples of high commissary prices — a bar of soap listed at $10 and small food items at about $6 — and urged the board to review vendor pricing and procurement. Jeff also said community nonprofits have expressed interest in offering lower-cost options for detainee needs.

Jeff told the board he had reviewed jail financials and concluded the facility faces a $5 million to $6 million shortfall for the fiscal year; he described the county detention budget as roughly $40 million and said starting salaries for some positions have not kept pace with inflation. He urged the jail trust to press the county budget board for more funding and recommended the trust seek members who can influence county funding decisions. A staff member confirmed Benchmark is the contracted vendor for commissary and food services.

Board members asked staff to obtain a full commissary item and price list and to clarify whether commissary services were bid separately from food services. The board did not vote on budget approvals but discussed the financial implications of removing commissary and phone revenue — which a member estimated at about $1.8 million annually — from the facility’s revenue mix.

Why it matters: commissary pricing and vendor arrangements affect detainee living conditions and family financial burden; county-level budget shortfalls and staffing levels affect safety, operations and potential capital needs.","Members of the Oklahoma County Citizens Advisory Board questioned commissary pricing, asked for the vendor contract and urged the jail trust to press county leaders for increased funding to address staffing and maintenance shortfalls at the county jail.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5975308,"Board asks for deeper review of detention-center medical services and $15 medical request charge",3009,1453000,4462000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5844277-3652ba420eef5bbe35fc427fadb29181&start=1453&end=4462","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5844277-3652ba420eef5bbe35fc427fadb29181/thumbnail_1453000.jpg","/articles/5975308/Oklahoma-County/Oklahoma/Board-asks-for-deeper-review-of-detention-center-medical-services-and-15-medical-request-charge","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5975308-a7eae9e4066dd48a17bcee3595825f82/orig.mp4?Expires=1771111479&Signature=Z5bUwXeK7~tY566kcyaFnkWAHiLeLjeE1R2pLWodN1mnkp8KCS-V2R6I5EWXRAxJOZduy5pY5Hpda8j-DkTmDbk6h2~uGjcnBUmleRHk6bfsfEHp~ReIJvHb-5mCvNVhCtiB23Oicy2GH4sazn7PmmyGZ4qk21BB63wxwtlqwUlVCuQQwg4a4IkAfrK5Fw0h2ftvHLkHJ2QfuGAdbphgnr6QiCD-i7w-enM9tqMGYc5m~6hxox-VMAGmH8LPGrDeF6r4sD-2Cs7xJmP2D~VMDQ2QEzOVHJsqEAEbHS97nj2rrFNa9kVw8z9UERnA-xdyb-kSsUqV3vemOo7IDV-X6w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Members of the Oklahoma County Citizens Advisory Board pressed for a formal review of medical services at the Oklahoma County Detention Center, asking staff to provide counts of medical requests, details on the $15 charge, and a clearer breakdown of medical staffing and response criteria.

CAB member Jeff (first name only in the meeting record) said the group should “make a formal request” for data on how the $15 charge is assessed and how many requests are made each year. Jeff also emphasized concerns about the adequacy of medical staffing and the timeliness of care, saying the board needs numbers and procedures to determine whether care is being delivered appropriately.

Deshaun Jones, who participated in the focus groups, told the board that residents reported delays for medical attention and that repeated submissions can move a resident \"to the back of the line\" when staff must triage multiple requests. A staff member reminded the board that the county is attempting to build internal capacity for medical care rather than fully contracting out, but several members suggested exploring local contracting and community partnerships to fill gaps—particularly for behavioral health and opioid-related treatments.

Several board members tied the medical discussion to recent deaths in the jail and said they had outstanding questions about whether timely assessments and follow-up occurred. One CAB member who identified themself as a pastor said they receive calls from family members reporting missed or delayed medication and urged the board to probe whether “some of those deaths...could have been avoided” if procedures were different.

The board asked staff to provide: (1) the number of medical requests submitted to the facility in the prior 12 months; (2) an explanation of how and when the $15 charge is applied; (3) a roster of medical staff and contracted providers with hours of coverage; and (4) recommendations from detention-center medical staff on operational changes that could reduce delays. Members also recommended the board consult outside medical and behavioral-health experts and to explore funding sources that could support continuity of care on release.

Why it matters: medical delays and unclear triage processes affect resident health and can raise legal and public-safety risks for the county; the board requested data and expert input to determine whether procedural changes or contracting options should be recommended to the jail trust.","The Citizens Advisory Board pressed for a detailed review of on-site medical staffing, response times and the $15 charge for medical requests amid concerns about delays and recent deaths; members recommended involving outside health partners and compiling usage data for the October meeting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Citizens Advisory Board accepts report from focus groups at Oklahoma County Detention Center

Board members flag commissary prices, Benchmark contract and county jail funding shortfall

Board asks for deeper review of detention-center medical services and $15 medical request charge