Private contract with US could bump Oklahoma inmates
Published: 08/23/10 - 4:05pm Written by Dick PryorOKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - A private prison company that houses more than 2,000 Oklahoma inmates says that, if it gets a contract it is seeking with federal prison officials, the state could have to find new homes for its prisoners. Corrections Corp. of America has offered to house federal inmates in two facilities now being used for Oklahoma prisoners, at Cushing and Holdenville, and a third unit at Watonga owned by CCA but closed down in the spring. CCA also operates a fourth unit at
Sayre that is apparently not involved in the company's proposal to federal officials. Justin Jones, state Corrections Department director, said the situation is not surprising, since the federal Bureau of Prisons pays more to house its inmates than does the state of Oklahoma.


