Department Of Corrections To Help Oklahoma County Jail Meet Staffing Needs

This weekend’s hostage situation has partners of the Oklahoma County Detention Center on edge and pushing for change.

The Oklahoma Department of Corrections is now working with the jail trust to add more staff.

“The Department of Corrections reached out to jail administrators and made an agreement to bring in staff support for each of the shifts,” said Tricia Everest, the jail trust chair.

This support comes just days after a correctional officer was held hostage at the Oklahoma County jail. Now, former employees are speaking out about bad working conditions.

Related: Former Jail Employees Describe Dangerous Working Conditions

“When it comes to our safety, they don’t care about it. The jail does need to be shut down there needs to be a new one built,” said one anonymous worker.

Another worker said they were forced to work two to three floors alone and eventually had to leave behind the dangerous job.

“I don’t feel like the jail should be running right now,” they said.

They aren't the only one's saying things are dangerous within the walls of the Oklahoma County jail.

A letter from Turn-Key Health, which provides medical services for inmates, says more needs to be done to keep their workers safe.

The letter goes on to say they are "giving the jail until April 29th to increase its staffing levels."

Read: Oklahoma Co. Detention Center’s Medical Provider Potentially Pulling Out if Staffing Doesn’t Increase

“The safety to our staff, safety to the public, and to all of our contract employees is paramount,” said Everest.

If the jail does not come up with a permanent solution the letter says they will have no choice but to terminate their contract effective May 31, 2021.

The jail trust told News 9 they don’t know how many DOC staff members are being brought in but they did say that won’t be the only change coming to the jail.