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DOC outlines workforce, technology and construction priorities; requests recurring and one‑time funds
Summary
Department of Corrections Director Harp briefed the committee on staffing gains, body‑worn cameras, digital mail, inmate surveys and construction needs, and requested specific appropriations for debt service, an offender management system and employee benefit allowances.
Department of Corrections Director Joe Harp told the Appropriations and Budget Committee the agency has pursued a mix of hiring, technology and policy changes to reduce violence, improve inmate outcomes and stabilize staffing — but still needs targeted funding.
Harp said DOC has implemented body‑worn cameras for correctional officers, moved the Allen Gamble correctional center from private to state operation, implemented digital mail to reduce contraband, and launched surveys and an offender advocacy unit to collect inmate feedback. He said those measures, combined with new training and an emphasis on leadership, have helped retention and reduced some categories of violence.
The agency reported a rise in staffing levels for medical positions: registered nurses increased by 27 FTEs and LPNs by 40 FTEs since 2022, according to Chief Financial Officer Ashley Clemens. Harp said the agency now retains roughly 80% of recruits from the most recent academy classes and that overall retention has improved from earlier lows.
Harp described several efficiency and savings items: transition of extradition services to the U.S. Marshals, negotiation of dialysis and pharmacy pricing, a shift to biweekly payroll, and savings from shared HVAC arrangements. He also said DOC plans digital solutions for medication distribution and for reducing paperwork, and that a pilot to “brick” confiscated cell phones and kill access through carriers has removed thousands of devices from use.
On costs and requests, Clemens said DOC is seeking funding to cover increased debt service (about $3.3 million projected for FY 2026), a $4.8 million request for the offender management system, and a $1.0+ million request for body‑worn camera implementation using one‑time funds (the agency expects to use carryover to purchase cameras this year). The agency also requested $2.0 million annualized for employee benefit allowances; the package presented totaled roughly $6.4 million in net new asks wrapped into a $550 million agency appropriation request.
Committee members asked whether a modest midyear cut (1–1.5%) would be survivable. Harp said DOC can manage for about a year using cash reserves but that sustained cuts beyond that would erode staffing and services. He told members that recruitment and retention remain challenges nationwide but that Oklahoma has made measurable progress in academy outputs and officer retention.
Harp emphasized plans to reduce reliance on contracted private beds and highlighted capital needs: aging buildings, maintenance estimated at $3–$4 million annually, and a long‑range conversation about whether the state should build new prisons or pursue public‑private financing options. He also described health‑care initiatives such as 340B pricing for HIV/AIDS drugs and a prepackaged medication contract intended to shorten pill lines and reduce contraband.
No formal votes were taken during the hearing. Harp invited committee members to visit DOC facilities and said agency staff will provide follow‑up figures on case management ratios and other metrics on request.
