Wagoner County sheriff's staff told commissioners on Jan. 6 that the county jail received an unannounced health inspection with no infractions and is “substantially in compliance” with state health standards, and presented staffing, training and off-site housing statistics for 2024.

Presenter Ryan Nelson (Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office) reported that the Oklahoma Department of Health conducted an unannounced inspection in late January and that the jail passed with zero infractions for the first time under the current standards. Nelson said 82 inmates were in the facility on the day of inspection; some inmates were contracted to other counties that day, which reduces the on-site count.

Nelson and sheriff’s staff highlighted training and retention efforts. They reported about 2,925 total training hours across the facility in 2024, an average of roughly 108 hours per officer for the year, and said new hires receive about 80 hours of initial training in the first two weeks — above the state minimum. The sheriff’s office also reported higher retention compared with 2020: the jail now counts 14 employees with three years’ service and more than 11 employees with at least one year on the job.

Officials briefed commissioners on off-site housing costs and booking trends. Staff said gross expenditures for off-site inmate housing in 2024 were about $169,820 before reimbursements; the county contracts with other facilities when the local jail lacks capacity and those off-site placements also create transportation and staffing costs, staff said. Officials noted the jail’s average daily and monthly counts and said most inmates are felony charges.

Sheriff’s office representatives also noted recognition from the Oklahoma Sheriffs’ Association: detention officer Kayla (Kayla Rogers in the transcript) received the association’s detention officer of the year award; Major Russell was nominated for jail administrator of the year. Commissioners inspected the jail after the presentation.

No formal action or policy changes were taken at the meeting; commissioners complimented staff and scheduled a facility inspection.