DOC seeks maintenance and per-diem increases; explains ICE subcontract and revenue plan
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Summary
Department of Corrections Director Farris asked for increased county-jail backup per diems and $2 million for ICON maintenance, described infrastructure needs totaling about $52 million, and detailed an ICE contract for the Watonga facility that currently brings roughly $833,000 monthly into DOCs revolving fund; senators sought clarification on oversight and whether funds would be treated as recurring revenue.
Director of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, told the appropriations subcommittee the agency requested two items this year: an increase in county jail backup per diem and $2 million for ICON maintenance. Farris said ICON is the corrections information backbone and requires ongoing module maintenance and updates to support offender population management and programs.
Farris highlighted accomplishments including centralized visitation scheduling, contraband interdiction that recovered approximately $18 million in illegal items, mobile check-ins for probationers and pilot officer tablets to shorten facility counts. He described plans for an infrastructure evaluation and a 10-year capital plan to address aging facilities and a growing inmate population.
ICE subcontract and revenue: Farris told senators the state has a contract with ICE for the Watonga facility and subcontracted operations to a private operator (CCA). The DOC receives approximately $833,000 per month from that arrangement and has deposited those funds into its 200 revolving fund. Farris said the department would like to use any sustained revenue to address $52 million in deferred maintenance needs but cautioned the payments are contingent on the ICE contract continuing.
Why it matters: The ICON maintenance request affects offender management and operations across county jails and DOC facilities. The ICE contract raises oversight and policy questions: senators asked whether DOC inspects subcontracted facilities and whether the department is counting the ICE payments as stable revenue; the department said a DOC contract monitor is assigned to oversight at Watonga and that the funds are currently in its revolving fund but are not being relied on as a guaranteed appropriation.
Next steps: The committee will consider DOC requests in the broader appropriations process. Lawmakers pressed for more specificity about long-term plans for the ICE-related revenue and prioritization of infrastructure projects.