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

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.